PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Waru Kuzuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pikku Näkäräinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Näkäräinen has chosen Juice Leskinen - Vaasankin veri vapisee as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Waru Kuzuri could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Pikku Näkäräinen's chin.

Kuzuri
vs
Näkäräinen

163 cm
27
135 lbs
27 - 4 - 0

152 cm
27
150 lbs
19 - 7 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Hardcore Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Waru Kuzuri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Pikku Näkäräinen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuzuri scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kuzuri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Näkäräinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuzuri.
Näkäräinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kuzuri is out of range and Näkäräinen settles back down.
Näkäräinen swings for the body but Kuzuri moves out of range.
Näkäräinen misses with a low kick.
Kuzuri throws an off balance right hand
and Näkäräinen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Näkäräinen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Näkäräinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuzuri.
Kuzuri looks to land a left hand but Näkäräinen moved out of range nicely.
Näkäräinen shoots in but Kuzuri avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kuzuri swings widly with a right hand
and Näkäräinen counters with a thumping low kick.
Näkäräinen ducks right into an uppercut from Kuzuri.
Jab, jab by Kuzuri - just one landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Näkäräinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuzuri lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kuzuri lunges at Näkäräinen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Näkäräinen's hand.
Kuzuri throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Näkäräinen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Näkäräinen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Näkäräinen lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kuzuri managing to control the position.
Kuzuri keeping moving, preventing Näkäräinen from controlling successfully.
Näkäräinen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Näkäräinen wants to free his trapped foot but Kuzuri is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Näkäräinen trying to control the action but Kuzuri is working from the bottom.
Well, if Näkäräinen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kuzuri moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuzuri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Näkäräinen is fighting to break Kuzuri's control of his arms but Kuzuri is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kuzuri working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Näkäräinen.
Kuzuri is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Näkäräinen wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kuzuri manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kuzuri will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Näkäräinen tries to reverse the position but Kuzuri maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kuzuri is trying to take his opponent's back.
Näkäräinen gets back to half guard.
Kuzuri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Näkäräinen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kuzuri is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Näkäräinen defends it well.
Kuzuri looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri is thwarting Näkäräinen's attempts to control the position.
Näkäräinen wants to get back to full guard.
Näkäräinen has a hand on Kuzuri's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kuzuri takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Kuzuri looking to control but Näkäräinen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuzuri controlling from the full mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Kuzuri goes for an armbar but Näkäräinen turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Näkäräinen.
Näkäräinen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Näkäräinen wants to control from the top but Kuzuri keeps moving.
Kuzuri looking to hit a scissor sweep but Näkäräinen is one step ahead there.
Kuzuri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuzuri wants to sweep here but Näkäräinen controlling him for the moment.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri seems keen to control Näkäräinen's posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kuzuri scores with a spinning back kick!
Kuzuri is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Näkäräinen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Näkäräinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuzuri scores with a sloppy right hand. Näkäräinen should have avoided that one.
Kuzuri blocks a leg kick.
Kuzuri throws a push kick but Näkäräinen slaps the foot to one side.
Näkäräinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuzuri throws a lazy right hand but Näkäräinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzuri takes a swing at Näkäräinen's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot by Näkäräinen.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Näkäräinen looking to score a takedown here. Kuzuri is defending well but Näkäräinen drives through and ends up in Kuzuri's guard.
Kuzuri keeping moving, preventing Näkäräinen from controlling successfully.
Kuzuri controlling Näkäräinen's posture.
Näkäräinen sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kuzuri is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Näkäräinen defends well.
Näkäräinen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Näkäräinen cracks Kuzuri with a solid left hand.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kuzuri's guard.
Näkäräinen passes to full mount!
Kuzuri is bucking up trying to escape but Näkäräinen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuzuri is in all sorts of trouble here.
Näkäräinen breaks from Kuzuri's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kuzuri is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Näkäräinen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuzuri regains half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri wants to get back to full guard.
Näkäräinen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Näkäräinen is thwarting Kuzuri's attempts to control the position.
Kuzuri is looking to improve his position.
Näkäräinen trying to control from half guard but Kuzuri is working away.
Näkäräinen moves nicely into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Näkäräinen is working Kuzuri over with some ground and pound from side control.

Näkäräinen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuzuri knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pikku Näkäräinen dominated 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.

Some bone on bone action there as Näkäräinen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kuzuri is looking to land body kicks.
Kuzuri misses with a left hand

and Näkäräinen counters with a single leg into guard. Kuzuri didn't expect that.

Kuzuri is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Näkäräinen defends well.
Pikku Näkäräinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kuzuri is trying to hold Näkäräinen in close to prevent damage but Näkäräinen has managed to pass into half guard.
Kuzuri is refusing to be controlled, as Näkäräinen sits in half guard.
Näkäräinen is pressing down on Kuzuri's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kuzuri is holding on for now.
Kuzuri manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Näkäräinen stopping the sweep attempt from Kuzuri.

Kuzuri looking for subs off his back but Näkäräinen has passed one foot through into half guard.
Näkäräinen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Näkäräinen drops an elbow to the side of Kuzuri's head.
Näkäräinen controlling the pace.
Kuzuri trying to hold on to Näkäräinen's head to control him but Näkäräinen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen is looking to advance position but Kuzuri won't allow it.

Kuzuri actively working from the bottom here.
Kuzuri trying to control from the bottom.
Näkäräinen wants to pass the guard but Kuzuri is defending well.
Kuzuri is looking to improve his position.

Kuzuri is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Näkäräinen pulls his head out easily.

Näkäräinen is working for a submission of some sort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuzuri tries to get to full guard but Näkäräinen has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuzuri trying to control but Näkäräinen postures up.
Näkäräinen wants to control but Kuzuri is keeping him busy.

Kuzuri looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Näkäräinen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuzuri does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Näkäräinen uses his free foot to push down on Kuzuri's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kuzuri.
Näkäräinen unloading with bombs!
Näkäräinen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kuzuri hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen controlling the pace for now.
Näkäräinen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Näkäräinen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kuzuri can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Näkäräinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuzuri is looking to escape.
Näkäräinen lands a big shot there that rocks Kuzuri but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Näkäräinen working the ground and pound effectively.
Kuzuri is desperately trying to improve his position but Näkäräinen has a good base and remains in mount.
Kuzuri tries to hold on but Näkäräinen postures up.
Näkäräinen scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Kuzuri is rocked!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Näkäräinen loads up with a big shot that hurts Kuzuri! He's pulled Näkäräinen in close but Näkäräinen has postured up and lands more strikes. Can Kuzuri survive? More strikes from Näkäräinen and Kuzuri is out! The ref jumps in to save him! Brutal ground and pound!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Pikku Näkäräinen!
Pikku Näkäräinen is the new featherweight champion!
A victorious Pikku Näkäräinen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.