PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armo Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Soderberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuusela comes to the cage accompanied by Promentory. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kuusela
vs
Soderberg

192 cm
44
195 lbs
46 - 25 - 2

179 cm
38
186 lbs
25 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Fast

Perkele!

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 46 - 25 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Armo Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Soderberg!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusela swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Soderberg misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Kuusela.
Kuusela stuffs the takedown.
A left and a right from Soderberg both land. Nice combination.
Soderberg works Kuusela's body with a nice hook.
Soderberg ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kuusela.
Soderberg misses with a hook. Kuusela ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters circling a little - Kuusela finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kuusela cracks Soderberg with an open hand slap.

Kuusela gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusela looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soderberg is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuusela has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Soderberg has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Kuusela working hard to break the clinch.
Soderberg scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuusela is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soderberg is defending well for now.
Soderberg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuusela manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kuusela pushes Soderberg back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Soderberg fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kuusela tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela tries a body shot but Soderberg blocks it.
Soderberg tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Kuusela.
Soderberg wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kuusela fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kuusela misses with the head strike.
Kuusela lands a nice uppercut.
Kuusela lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Soderberg.
A right hand to the body from Kuusela.
Soderberg looks winded!
Soderberg wants a takedown but no success here.
Armo Kuusela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Soderberg.

Kuusela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuusela's jab looks to have found its range, popping Soderberg under the eye.
Kuusela swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Soderberg has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela throws a head kick but Soderberg moves out of range.
Kuusela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Soderberg.
Kuusela connects with a body shot.
Soderberg throws a sloppy body shot
and Kuusela counters with a nice leg kick.

Kuusela moves into range and clinches up with Soderberg.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuusela.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kuusela - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Soderberg tries a body shot but Kuusela blocks it.
Kuusela prevents a body shot from Soderberg.

Kuusela escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Soderberg takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela checks a low kick from Soderberg.
Soderberg looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kuusela lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Soderberg takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuusela tries to work over Soderberg's front leg with a kick but Soderberg checks it.
Some wild striking there from Kuusela.
Kuusela throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuusela throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Soderberg thuds his right hand into Kuusela's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kuusela misses with a looping right.
Soderberg let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kuusela tries to land a front kick but Soderberg steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A little jabbing left from Soderberg on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed right hand from Soderberg misses the target.
Soderberg tried to score with a low kick but Kuusela checks it.
Nice takedown defense from Kuusela. No joy for Soderberg on that attempt.
Kuusela fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuusela misses with an attempted mid kick.
Soderberg with the counter takedown but Kuusela avoids it easily.
Kuusela scores with a jab. Soderberg acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Soderberg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kuusela lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Soderberg at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Soderberg.
Kuusela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soderberg can do to turn this around?
Soderberg takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kuusela scores with a kick to the body.
Soderberg just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soderberg sizes up Kuusela with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Soderberg is breathing heavily.
Kuusela thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Soderberg if he has to take too many more of those.
Kuusela scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Nice body punch from Kuusela.
Kuusela is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Kuusela drops Soderberg with a beautiful combination! Soderberg stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kuusela is looking for the KO!

Soderberg is rocked!

It looks like Rufus Soderberg has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusela shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Soderberg takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Kuusela sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Soderberg bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Armo Kuusela!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Armo Kuusela waved his t-shirt featuring Maximum Vitality's logo in front of the cameras.
Rufus Soderberg was interviewed post fight and said 'I'm not done. I'm not done. '.