PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toni Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Butch Hamburger (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.

Kuivanen
vs
Hamburger

181 cm
18
201 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

191 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Kuivanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Butch Hamburger!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamburger takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kuivanen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hamburger sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuivanen somewhat.

Hamburger shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hamburger was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hamburger working the ground and pound but Kuivanen is defending the strikes.
Hamburger working the head and body with strikes.
Hamburger cracks Kuivanen with a big right hand but Kuivanen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hamburger tries to stand but Kuivanen controls the position and pulls Hamburger into his guard.
Hamburger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuivanen keeping full guard, as Hamburger tries to pass.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hamburger is in close to Kuivanen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hamburger wants to stand but Kuivanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kuivanen keeping moving, preventing Hamburger from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hamburger 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!
You can see the frustration on Hamburger's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kuivanen taking a breather here.
Kuivanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hamburger keeps working.
Hamburger holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
You can see the frustration on Hamburger's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kuivanen wants to control but Hamburger is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Hamburger fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kuivanen to the ground. Hamburger is now in Kuivanen's guard.
Hamburger lands a couple of elbows.
Hamburger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuivanen is trying to control the position but Hamburger postures up.
Hamburger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuivanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuivanen controls Hamburger momentarily but Hamburger frees himself.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kuivanen working for a triangle but Hamburger defends it easily.
Hamburger throwing strikes from guard but Kuivanen blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamburger with a nice head shot there.
Hamburger landing some decent shots from guard.

Hamburger drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuivanen dives on top into guard.
Hamburger keeping full guard, as Kuivanen tries to pass.
Kuivanen is breathing heavily.
Hamburger keeping moving, preventing Kuivanen from controlling successfully.
Hamburger is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kuivanen won't allow Hamburger to sweep him here.
Hamburger wants to stand up but Kuivanen is controlling him.
Kuivanen stopping the sweep attempt from Hamburger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kuivanen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hamburger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuivanen's head.
Hamburger showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hamburger scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Hamburger gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hamburger closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kuivanen did well to prevent Hamburger getting side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hamburger seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hamburger working over Kuivanen with some ground and pound. Kuivanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hamburger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Butch Hamburger dominated that round.
That's time! Kuivanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hamburger 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.
Hamburger seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Kuivanen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hamburger defends it easily.
Hamburger content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hamburger is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hamburger really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuivanen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hamburger slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kuivanen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hamburger working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamburger makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hamburger wants to control from the top but Kuivanen keeps moving.

Kuivanen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hamburger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hamburger lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hamburger landing with the ground and pound.
Hamburger wants to get up but he can't break Kuivanen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hamburger controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hamburger works over Kuivanen with some ground and pound from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hamburger lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hamburger stays in close to Kuivanen's body and controls the position.

Hamburger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hamburger trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamburger looking to pass the guard.

Hamburger drops back looking for a leg! Kuivanen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kuivanen manages to kick Hamburger off! Hamburger jumps back into Kuivanen's guard.
Hamburger working some strikes from top position.
Hamburger landing some decent shots from guard.
Hamburger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hamburger is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hamburger scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamburger's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hamburger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuivanen's head.
Hamburger trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamburger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuivanen's head.
Kuivanen being controlled here, momentarily.
Hamburger scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hamburger working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hamburger's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hamburger chips away with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hamburger trying to control but Kuivanen is working from the bottom.
Butch Hamburger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hamburger postures up and lands a big shot to Kuivanen's brow.

Kuivanen is rocked!
Kuivanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamburger looking to pass the guard.
Hamburger trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hamburger lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hamburger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hamburger controlling from the top position.
Hamburger is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hamburger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hamburger postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Oh Kuivanen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hamburger scoring with some ground and pound.
Hamburger works over Kuivanen with some ground and pound from guard.
Hamburger loads up on a big left hand. Kuivanen felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Hamburger looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Kuivanen can't hide his disappointment, as Hamburger celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Butch Hamburger!