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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Howard Bradley (ranked 4126 p4p, 4017 weight class) and Mikko Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
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180 cm 25 180 0 - 0 - 0 |
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181 cm 25 175 0 - 0 - 0 |
Good wrestling Basic striking Granite chin |
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Good wrestler Basic striking Inexperienced |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division. Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Howard Bradley! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mikko Kuivanen! The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Dirk Anderson and Bart Greer.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Kuivanen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kuivanen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure! Kuivanen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bradley to see if he's OK. Kuivanen landing strikes. Bradley on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bradley tries to get out of the position. Kuivanen with the ground and pound but Bradley regains half guard under the barage of strikes. Bradley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound. Kuivanen wants to pass to mount but Bradley is defending the position. The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. Kuivanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bradley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Bradley trying to hold on to Kuivanen's head to control him but Kuivanen postures up.
Kuivanen working over Bradley with some ground and pound. Bradley looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable. Kuivanen stalling away here and it's allowed Bradley to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round. Kuivanen throwing strikes but missing. Kuivanen looking to pass the guard. Kuivanen throwing strikes from guard but Bradley blocks nicely. Kuivanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect. Bradley is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control. Kuivanen wants to pass the guard but Bradley is keeping the position. Kuivanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect. Kuivanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
That's two minutes gone in the round. The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena. Bradley tries to land a sweep but no joy. Bradley keeping full guard, as Kuivanen tries to pass. Kuivanen connects with a couple of short punches. Kuivanen trying to control but Bradley is working from the bottom. Bradley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage. Bradley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuivanen's guard. Bradley won't allow Kuivanen to sweep him here. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Bradley scoring with some ground and pound. Kuivanen trying to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Kuivanen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bradley is one step ahead there. Kuivanen controls Bradley momentarily but Bradley frees himself. Bradley tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuivanen is retaining full guard. We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon. Bradley wants to control from the top but Kuivanen keeps moving.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet. Bradley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kuivanen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round. There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action. Bradley shoots in looking for a takedown but Kuivanen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bradley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away. Bradley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kuivanen but Kuivanen pushes him off and we're back to square one. That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Howard Bradley. That's going to take a lot out of him. Bradley fails with a takedown attempt from distance. Kuivanen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bradley's hands. Bradley shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bradley showed some decent athleticism there. Kuivanen is trying to get back to full guard. Bradley scores with a couple of good hammerfists. The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. Kuivanen is trying to maintain the position but Bradley is very close to passing his half guard. Bradley trying to control the action but Kuivanen is working from the bottom. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Mikko Kuivanen dominated that round. That's time! Back to the action! Bradley on the wrong end of a nice jab. Bradley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuivanen pinned against the cage. Kuivanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away. Bradley sets himself, and Kuivanen steps forward looking for the clinch! Bradley avoids it this time. Kuivanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button. Mikko Kuivanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. Bradley throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuivanen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bradley is in Kuivanen's guard. Bradley connects with a couple of short punches. Bradley trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Kuivanen trying to keep a closed guard but Bradley is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Bradley trying to control but Kuivanen is working from the bottom. Bradley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round. Kuivanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bradley trying to control but Kuivanen is working from the bottom. Kuivanen wants to sweep but no luck. Kuivanen trying to control the position.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity. Bradley misses with a takedown attempt - Kuivanen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses. Kuivanen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here. Bradley closes the distance and clinches up with Kuivanen, looking for a takedown. Bradley pushes Kuivanen against the cage but Kuivanen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch. That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Howard Bradley. That's going to take a lot out of him. Kuivanen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard. Kuivanen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bradley to regain full guard. Bradley wants to sweep here but Kuivanen controlling him for the moment. Kuivanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Bradley keeping full guard, as Kuivanen tries to pass. Kuivanen is fighting to break Bradley's control of his arms but Bradley is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment. Kuivanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage. Kuivanen throws an elbow that misses. Bradley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kuivanen's guard. Nice move by Bradley! Bradley stopping the sweep attempt from Kuivanen. Bradley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuivanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Kuivanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuivanen, not yet. Kuivanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bradley manages to get himself to full guard.
Kuivanen trying to control but Bradley is working from the bottom. Kuivanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bradley is retaining full guard. Kuivanen passes easily into side control. Nice work. Bradley wants to control but Kuivanen postures up. Kuivanen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bradley some visible discomfort.
Bradley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kuivanen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Kuivanen trying to control from Bradley's half guard. Bradley has other ideas though and has regained full guard. Kuivanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bradley swivels though and keeps the full guard. Kuivanen throws an elbow that misses. Bradley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kuivanen's guard. Nice move by Bradley! Kuivanen tries to land a sweep but no joy. Mikko Kuivanen has got the better of the ground game so far. Kuivanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. Bradley trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Bradley is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Mikko Kuivanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards. The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round! Bradley slips under a jab. Kuivanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Bradley, before circling back to the center of the mat. Bradley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Kuivanen 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. Kuivanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bradley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out. Bradley looking for a sweep. Not yet Bradley, not yet. Bradley is working hard here to advance position. Kuivanen throws an elbow that misses. Bradley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kuivanen's guard. Nice move by Bradley! Kuivanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuivanen, not yet. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Bradley is working Kuivanen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes. Bradley is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuivanen has wrist control. Kuivanen is trying to keep Bradley in close.
Bradley won't allow Kuivanen to sweep him here.
That's one minute gone in the round. Bradley working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuivanen's head. Bradley throwing strikes from guard but Kuivanen blocks nicely. Bradley keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kuivanen's head. Kuivanen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Bradley keeping full guard, as Kuivanen tries to pass. There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bradley is on top in guard.
Kuivanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far. Bradley throws an elbow that misses. Kuivanen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bradley's guard. Nice move by Kuivanen!
That's two minutes gone in the round. Bradley 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. Bradley seems keen to control Kuivanen's posture. Bradley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuivanen. Bradley is pulling down on Kuivanen's head. It's preventing any offense from Kuivanen, at least for the moment. Kuivanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike. Kuivanen throws an elbow that misses. Bradley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kuivanen's guard. Nice move by Bradley!
That's three minutes gone in the round. Kuivanen tries to strike from the bottom.
Kuivanen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bradley is one step ahead there. Bradley passes Kuivanen's right leg, so he's now in half guard. The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bradley connects with a nice short shot to Kuivanen's temple. Kuivanen wants to improve his position but Bradley is controlling well.
Kuivanen wants to control but Bradley is keeping busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it. Bradley is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position. Bradley content to sit in half guard and control for a moment. Bradley not landing any meaningful shots this time. Kuivanen wants to improve his position but Bradley is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out! Howard Bradley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Bradley is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that's the end of the fight! That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Howard Bradley. I think Kuivanen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29 Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30 Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Kuivanen!
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S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
31% |
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