PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalju Kulli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Gonzalez
vs
Kulli

178 cm
27
180 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

185 cm
30
185 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anthony Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kalju Kulli!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez misses with a low kick as Kulli jumps back.
Gonzalez fails to land the takedown.
Kulli tries to close the distance and clinch but Gonzalez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gonzalez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kalju Kulli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kulli is stalling here.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kulli looking to throw knees to the head but Gonzalez is blocking nicely.

Gonzalez drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Kulli from controlling successfully.

Gonzalez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kulli defends it easily.
Kulli slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez keeping full guard, as Kulli tries to pass.

Gonzalez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gonzalez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kulli gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kulli postures up and lands a big shot to Gonzalez's brow.

Gonzalez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kulli wanted to stand there but Gonzalez had control of the position.

Gonzalez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Kulli from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez is looking for a triangle here but Kulli uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kulli remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kulli wants to control but Gonzalez is keeping him busy.
Kulli looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gonzalez is pressing down on Kulli's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kulli seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Kulli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kulli wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gonzalez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anthony Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
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.

Kulli darts in and clinches Gonzalez up against the cage.
Gonzalez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kulli pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kulli holding his opponent close, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kulli creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kulli lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gonzalez.
Kulli is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gonzalez is defending well for now.
Gonzalez prevents a body shot from Kulli.
Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kulli avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulli jumps guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kulli's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kulli throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kulli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kulli looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kulli connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kulli throws a head kick but Gonzalez moves out of range.
Kulli throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Gonzalez to counter with a crisp jab.
Kulli wants to clinch but Gonzalez slips to the side
and Gonzalez counters with a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez throws a hook but Kulli avoids it easily.
Gonzalez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kulli moves away.
Gonzalez shoots for a takedown but Kulli saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kulli has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kulli throws a head kick that misses
and Gonzalez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Anthony Gonzalez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gonzalez throws a head kick but Kulli moves out of range.
Gonzalez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kulli.
As Kulli looks to move away, Gonzalez throws a big counter combo but Kulli just gets out of the way.
Gonzalez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gonzalez or perhaps it was just good defense by Kulli, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gonzalez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kulli jabs at Gonzalez's body.
Gonzalez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kulli avoids the head kick by Gonzalez.
Kulli was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Gonzalez throws an overhand right that lands on Kulli's shoulder, as Kulli tries to avoid the shot.
Kulli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kulli gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gonzalez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kulli wants to sweep here but Gonzalez controlling him for the moment.
Kulli has control of Gonzalez's left arm, preventing Gonzalez from doing any damage.
Gonzalez scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez looking to pass the guard.
Kulli controlling Gonzalez's posture.
Gonzalez stopping the sweep attempt from Kulli.
Kulli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kulli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kulli keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.
Gonzalez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gonzalez working some strikes from top position.
Kulli wants to improve his position but instead Gonzalez has moved into half guard.

Gonzalez wants to work for an arm triangle but Kulli is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gonzalez throwing shots but Kulli is blocking nicely.
Kulli manages to get to full guard.

Kulli had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gonzalez defends it easily.
Kulli pulls Gonzalez in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kalju Kulli will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gonzalez throws a jab but it's blocked by Kulli.
Kulli misses with a low kick.
Gonzalez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Gonzalez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gonzalez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kulli is fending him off so far but Gonzalez persists. Nope, Kulli circles away and we're back to standing.
Gonzalez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kulli counters with a straight right hand.
Gonzalez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Kulli misses the target.

Kulli clinches up with Gonzalez and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulli misses with some punches.
Kulli gets underhooks to prevent Gonzalez's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kulli walks away with a smile on his face. Gonzalez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kulli lands a nice shot to the body.
Gonzalez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kulli.
Gonzalez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kulli has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Gonzalez with that takedown attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kulli.
Gonzalez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Gonzalez is looking to counter the offense by Kulli and move into the clinch.
Gonzalez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kulli throws a leg kick that is checked

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Kulli has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Gonzalez has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gonzalez tries to pull guard but Kulli won't allow it.
Kulli is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gonzalez jumps guard but Kulli turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kulli scores with a shot to the side of Gonzalez's head.

Kulli breaks the clinch.
Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kulli as he jumps to the side.
Kulli looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kulli's waist but Kulli gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gonzalez off to one side.
Kulli misses with a two punch combination.
Kulli lands a head shot.
Gonzalez tries a head kick but it misses.
Kulli swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kulli throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Gonzalez misses.
Kulli dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gonzalez. That did some damage!
Kulli attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Kulli gets a clinch.
Gonzalez blocks a body shot from Kulli.

Gonzalez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kulli is trying to keep an underhook but Gonzalez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Gonzalez prevents Kulli from improving his position.
Kulli holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulli has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gonzalez is working away from the top position though.

Gonzalez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gonzalez passes to full mount!
Kulli wants to control but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Kulli working to try and regain half guard.
Kulli wants to control but Gonzalez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulli is looking to improve his position but Gonzalez isn't that keen on the idea.

Gonzalez has control of Kulli's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kulli regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kulli tries to hold on but Gonzalez pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalju Kulli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kulli 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalju Kulli!