PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cristobal Galvao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuki Hilli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Galvao
vs
Hilli

177 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cristobal Galvao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kuki Hilli!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hilli shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Galvao's guard.
Galvao looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Galvao being controlled here, momentarily.
Hilli with a nice head shot there.
Hilli trying to control the position from guard on top but Galvao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Galvao wants to stand but Hilli is controlling the position.
Galvao keeping moving, preventing Hilli from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hilli drops back looking for a leg! Galvao is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Galvao manages to kick Hilli off! Hilli jumps back into Galvao's guard.
Hilli trying to control the position from guard on top but Galvao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galvao wants to stand up but Hilli is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hilli looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hilli decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cristobal Galvao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hilli scores a takedown into full mount!

Hilli working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Galvao is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galvao has given up his back. Will we see Hilli going for some submissions?
Galvao has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Galvao defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Galvao is trying to get back to his feet but Hilli has full control of the position and if anything, Galvao has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Hilli has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hilli has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Galvao has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hilli struggling to keep hold of the position.

Hilli is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Galvao knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Galvao for a finish.
Galvao wants to get back to his feet.

Hilli looking to break Galvao's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Galvao remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hilli will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Galvao defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hilli's arms.
Galvao controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Galvao trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
What can Galvao do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Hilli patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuki Hilli dominated that round.
That's time! Galvao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Galvao misses with a jab, cross combination.
A clash of legs there as Galvao blocks the low kick.

Hilli drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hilli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Galvao keeps working.
Galvao takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hilli trying to control the action but Galvao is working from the bottom.
Galvao taking punishment in the form of punches.
Galvao on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hilli thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilli sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Galvao is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Hilli stands up and beckons Galvao to his feet.
Galvao pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Hilli scores a takedown into full mount!
Hilli with the ground and pound from mount.
Galvao squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Hilli is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Galvao can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Galvao is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuki Hilli has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hilli jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Galvao manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Hilli working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hilli is looking to take a break and control but Galvao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilli prevents Galvao from escaping the position.
An elbow from Hilli crashes against the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Galvao throws a head kick that misses.

Hilli throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Galvao was covering up waiting for the punch and Hilli finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hilli throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Galvao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Galvao is looking to stand up but Hilli isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilli passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Hilli has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Hilli scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Galvao is looking to escape.

Hilli decides to stand and escape the position.
Galvao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hilli closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hilli lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Galvao is wriggling around but Hilli manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuki Hilli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Galvao throws a sloppy head kick and Hilli moves out of range easily.

Hilli looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hilli is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hilli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Galvao swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hilli won't allow Galvao to get back to his feet.
Hilli is looking to work some ground and pound but Galvao has wrist control.
Hilli controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hilli prevents Galvao from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilli is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Galvao is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hilli gets the takedown into side control.
Hilli is looking to take a break and control but Galvao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Hilli thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galvao is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hilli is controlling him well.
Hilli just content to control the position.
Galvao is trying to buck Hilli off.
Galvao is not content to let Hilli control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hilli tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hilli has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Galvao is pushing Hilli's head away, looking to escape. Hilli manages to hold on to the position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hilli feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hilli controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kuki Hilli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Galvao wants to stand but Hilli is controlling the position.
Hilli 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.
Hilli prevents Galvao from getting back to his feet.
Cristobal Galvao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Galvao doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuki Hilli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hilli 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuki Hilli!