PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toni Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuivanen comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - All Nightmare Long. Toni Kuivanen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kuivanen
vs
Ali

188 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
194 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Kuivanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Helio Ali!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuivanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kuivanen moves into the clinch.
Kuivanen trying to land knees to the body.
Ali is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kuivanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kuivanen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kuivanen misses with a body punch.

Kuivanen pulls guard effortlessly.
Ali controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ali trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ali trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Helio Ali was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Kuivanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuivanen pulls Ali into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ali is pushing down on Kuivanen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kuivanen is fighting to maintain full guard but Ali has managed to sneak the leg through.

Ali seems to be looking for submissions.

Ali is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuivanen defends it well.
Ali is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ali controlling the action here.
Kuivanen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ali on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ali is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kuivanen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ali.
Ali is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kuivanen!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kuivanen darts in trying to clinch

and Ali counters with a single leg into guard. Kuivanen didn't expect that.
Ali content to stall in guard here.
Ali pushes down on Kuivanen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ali is looking to pass Kuivanen's guard but actually Kuivanen recovers to full guard.
Ali slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ali passes Kuivanen's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ali wants to free his trapped foot but Kuivanen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ali thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuivanen's head.

Ali looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ali controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali is trying to control. Kuivanen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ali perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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.
Kuivanen won't allow Ali to pass to mount.

Kuivanen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ali pulls his head out easily.

Kuivanen has one foot on Ali's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kuivanen misses with a two punch combination.
Kuivanen wants to clinch up but Ali keeps it at a distance.
Kuivanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Ali circles away.

Ali gets caught napping as Kuivanen dives in and scores a takedown. Ali manages to retain guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ali trying to keep a closed guard but Kuivanen is proving a slippery customer.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helio Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kuivanen shoots in and gets a takedown into Ali's guard.
Ali looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuivanen is one step ahead there.
Kuivanen trying to control but Ali is working from the bottom.
Kuivanen stopping the sweep attempt from Ali.
Ali manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuivanen manages to get himself to full guard.
Ali not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Helio Ali has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Ali 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.
Ali looking to sit in guard and control but Kuivanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ali looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Kuivanen is defending well. Ali quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Kuivanen has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Ali celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Helio Ali!