PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoan Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuivanen has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Hernandez
vs
Kuivanen

193 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoan Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Kuivanen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hernandez has closed the distance and engaged Kuivanen in a clinch.

Hernandez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kuivanen won't allow Hernandez to pass to mount.
Hernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hernandez is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuivanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Kuivanen is defending against the submission attempts here by Hernandez.
Kuivanen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hernandez trying to control from half guard but Kuivanen is working away.
Hernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kuivanen is defending against the submission attempts here by Hernandez.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernandez is keen to just control but Kuivanen is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuivanen is controlling Hernandez's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hernandez throwing shots but Kuivanen is blocking nicely.
Hernandez is trying to control. Kuivanen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kuivanen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hernandez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kuivanen looks winded!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hernandez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hernandez trying to control but Kuivanen is working from the bottom.
Kuivanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hernandez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez wanted to stand there but Kuivanen had control of the position.

Hernandez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hernandez trying to control but Kuivanen is working from the bottom.
Hernandez tries to stand but Kuivanen is controlling from the bottom.
Hernandez tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuivanen is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hernandez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuivanen keeping moving, preventing Hernandez from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuivanen has a closed guard, preventing Hernandez from standing up.
Hernandez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hernandez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kuivanen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kuivanen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kuivanen!
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom here.

Kuivanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hernandez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hernandez is trying to improve his position.
Hernandez is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuivanen on the ground.
Hernandez is trying to control Kuivanen's posture but Kuivanen avoids it.
Hernandez misses with a strike from the bottom.
Hernandez looks to move to half guard but instead Kuivanen has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hernandez trying desperately to get to his feet.
Hernandez tries to hold on but Kuivanen pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoan Hernandez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hernandez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kuivanen's guard.
Kuivanen keeping full guard, as Hernandez tries to pass.

Kuivanen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hernandez defends well.
Hernandez throwing strikes from guard but Kuivanen blocks nicely.
Hernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hernandez wanted to stand there but Kuivanen had control of the position.
Hernandez throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuivanen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuivanen keeping moving, preventing Hernandez from controlling successfully.
Yoan Hernandez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hernandez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hernandez wants to control from the top but Kuivanen keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Yoan Hernandez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kuivanen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hernandez sprawls well. Hernandez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kuivanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Hernandez tries to clinch there but Kuivanen circles away.

Hernandez clinches.
Hernandez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hernandez misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez jumps into guard, dragging Kuivanen to the mat.
Kuivanen prevents Hernandez from getting back to his feet.
Hernandez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hernandez wants to stand but Kuivanen is controlling the position.
Kuivanen postures up.
Hernandez wants to sweep here but Kuivanen controlling him for the moment.
Kuivanen won't allow Hernandez to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kuivanen postures up.

Yoan Hernandez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kuivanen tries to keep at a distance but Hernandez has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez has Kuivanen pressed against the cage.
Hernandez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kuivanen.
Hernandez is looking to break free of the clinch but Kuivanen has double underhooks.

Hernandez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hernandez manages to end up in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen defending against the ground and pound.
Hernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuivanen keeps working.
Hernandez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuivanen keeps working.
Hernandez working the ground and pound but Kuivanen is defending the strikes.
Kuivanen wants to get back to his feet but Hernandez drags him back down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hernandez wants to control but Kuivanen is keeping him busy.

Hernandez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoan Hernandez dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Hernandez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hernandez is stalling here. Kuivanen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hernandez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kuivanen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hernandez is trying to control Kuivanen's posture but Kuivanen avoids it.
Hernandez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kuivanen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kuivanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kuivanen decides to stand back up. Kuivanen steps back and let's Hernandez get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hernandez drives through with a takedown into Kuivanen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hernandez postures up in Kuivanen's guard and throws a big left but Kuivanen blocks it.
Kuivanen keeping full guard, as Hernandez tries to pass.
Hernandez throwing strikes but missing.
Hernandez tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuivanen is retaining full guard.
Kuivanen keeping moving, preventing Hernandez from controlling successfully.
Kuivanen is trying to keep Hernandez in close.
Hernandez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kuivanen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuivanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hernandez wants to control from the top but Kuivanen keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Yoan Hernandez wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hernandez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kuivanen on his heels. He'll look to pass Kuivanen's guard now, I'm sure.
Hernandez tries to stand but Kuivanen is controlling from the bottom.
Hernandez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuivanen can do to turn this around?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kuivanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hernandez passes into side control.
Hernandez is looking to take a break and control but Kuivanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez swings around for an armbar but Kuivanen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Hernandez's guard.
Hernandez looking to control.
Kuivanen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hernandez trying to control but Kuivanen postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yoan Hernandez just wasn't active enough.
Hernandez throws a head kick but Kuivanen moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kuivanen quickly recovers to half guard.
Kuivanen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hernandez is working away from the top position though.
Hernandez trying to control the action but Kuivanen is working from the bottom.
Hernandez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kuivanen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Yoan Hernandez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Hernandez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoan Hernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hernandez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoan Hernandez!
Yoan Hernandez was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.