PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Bredenberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelli Kuukeri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bredenberg comes to the cage accompanied by Heja Bamse. 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.

Bredenberg
vs
Kuukeri

202 cm
24
290 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

193 cm
21
280 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Emmanuel Bredenberg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nelli Kuukeri!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bredenberg closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kuukeri wants to improve his position but Bredenberg is controlling well.
Bredenberg takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Bredenberg prevents Kuukeri from improving his position.
Kuukeri trying to hold on to Bredenberg's head to control him but Bredenberg postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nelli Kuukeri was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kuukeri tries for a takedown but Bredenberg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Bredenberg closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kuukeri's guard.

Kuukeri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bredenberg is aware though and is defending well.
Bredenberg looking to sit in guard and control but Kuukeri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kuukeri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bredenberg looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuukeri is one step ahead there.
Kuukeri is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bredenberg trying to control the position.
Kuukeri throws a strike but Bredenberg rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bredenberg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bredenberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bredenberg avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bredenberg showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Kuukeri looking for a guillotine here but Bredenberg defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kuukeri keeping full guard, as Bredenberg tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bredenberg sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bredenberg seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kuukeri for as long as he can get away with.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kuukeri pulls Bredenberg in close to his closed guard and prevents Bredenberg from doing any damage or advancing position.
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 Emmanuel Bredenberg will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bredenberg closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bredenberg happy to just control the position for now.
Kuukeri is trying to improve his position.
Bredenberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuukeri keeps working.
Check out the look on Bredenberg's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bredenberg is looking to take a break and control but Kuukeri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuukeri is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kuukeri strikes from the bottom but Bredenberg takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Kuukeri manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri is trying is best to control the position here.
Bredenberg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuukeri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bredenberg is taking a breather. Kuukeri 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.

Kuukeri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bredenberg pulls his head out easily.
Bredenberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuukeri keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri wants to control but Bredenberg passes into side.
Bredenberg lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kuukeri down.
Kuukeri wants to control but Bredenberg postures up.
Emmanuel Bredenberg overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuukeri is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee asks Bredenberg politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Bredenberg prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bredenberg's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Emmanuel Bredenberg wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kuukeri shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bredenberg as he avoids it easily.

Bredenberg shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kuukeri's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Bredenberg dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuukeri closes the distance and clinches up with Bredenberg, looking for a takedown. Kuukeri pushes Bredenberg against the cage but Bredenberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kuukeri tries to clinch but Bredenberg is having none of it.
Kuukeri misses with a looping right.
Kuukeri moves in looking to clinch but Bredenberg pushes him off.
Kuukeri wants to clinch up but Bredenberg keeps it at a distance.
Kuukeri misses with a straight left.

Kuukeri gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bredenberg to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kuukeri 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.
Bredenberg wants to control from the top but Kuukeri keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuukeri looking for a guillotine here but Bredenberg defends easily.
Kuukeri keeping moving, preventing Bredenberg from controlling successfully.
Bredenberg sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Emmanuel Bredenberg wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kuukeri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuukeri takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kuukeri checks a leg kick.
Kuukeri just misses with a punch to the body.
Bredenberg keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Bredenberg scores with a takedown into Kuukeri's guard.
Bredenberg looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bredenberg wants to control from the top but Kuukeri keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kuukeri is looking for a triangle but Bredenberg pushes his legs off easily.

Kuukeri working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bredenberg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bredenberg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bredenberg trying to control but Kuukeri is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bredenberg passes Kuukeri's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Kuukeri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bredenberg pulls his head out easily.
Kuukeri wants to improve his position but Bredenberg is controlling well.
Bredenberg trying to control the action but Kuukeri is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Bredenberg clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kuukeri fails with the takedown.

Bredenberg shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bredenberg advances to half guard.
Bredenberg trying to pass the guard but Kuukeri defending well.
Kuukeri is looking for a sweep. Bredenberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bredenberg passes into side control, despite Kuukeri's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukeri struggling a bit here.
Bredenberg trying to control the position but Kuukeri is working away.
Bredenberg scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bredenberg wants to control for a moment but Kuukeri uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri wants to improve his position but Bredenberg is controlling well.
Kuukeri is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bredenberg's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bredenberg's back!
Bredenberg turns into Kuukeri and is now in his guard.
Bredenberg wants to control from the top but Kuukeri keeps moving.
Bredenberg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuukeri is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bredenberg engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kuukeri wants to control the position but Bredenberg says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kuukeri is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuukeri is looking to improve his position.

Bredenberg is working for a kimura but Kuukeri is defending it quite comfortably.
Bredenberg controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emmanuel Bredenberg had his way with Nelli Kuukeri in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kuukeri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bredenberg stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuukeri. Kuukeri gets slowly back to his feet.
Bredenberg looks to land a combination but Kuukeri avoids it well.
Bredenberg avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Bredenberg drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bredenberg looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bredenberg stopping the sweep attempt from Kuukeri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bredenberg controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Bredenberg drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bredenberg jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bredenberg is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Emmanuel Bredenberg.
Kuukeri throws a shot from downtown. Bredenberg moves away and avoids it.
Kuukeri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuukeri takes a swing at Bredenberg's ribcage but misses.

Bredenberg throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuukeri tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bredenberg is in Kuukeri's guard.
Kuukeri keeping full guard, as Bredenberg tries to pass.
Kuukeri controlling the position.

Kuukeri throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bredenberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuukeri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emmanuel Bredenberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bredenberg looking to pass the guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bredenberg is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nelli Kuukeri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Emmanuel Bredenberg just wasn't active enough.
Kuukeri misses with a series of wild punches.
Kuukeri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuukeri throws a body punch but Bredenberg moves out of range.

Bredenberg gets the takedown into side control.
Kuukeri tries to bench press Bredenberg off him but Bredenberg keeps the position.
Kuukeri is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A lull in the action here as Bredenberg stalls from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmanuel Bredenberg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bredenberg, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 50:45
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 50:45
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emmanuel Bredenberg!
Emmanuel Bredenberg retains his heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Emmanuel Bredenberg started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.