PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Artur Da Matta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Kuustonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuustonen has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Artur Da Matta has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Da Matta
vs
Kuustonen

175 cm
22
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 Amsterdam, Artur Da Matta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikko Kuustonen!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Da Matta closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kuustonen to the mat! Kuustonen manages to get full guard.
Kuustonen looks gassed!
Kuustonen being controlled here, momentarily.
Da Matta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Da Matta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuustonen is keeping the position for now.
Da Matta is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Da Matta wanted to stand there but Kuustonen had control of the position.
Da Matta connects with a couple of short punches.
Da Matta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Da Matta is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Kuustonen working for a triangle but Da Matta defends it easily.
Da Matta is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Matta distracts Kuustonen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Da Matta slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Da Matta slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Da Matta controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Da Matta is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kuustonen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kuustonen being controlled for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Matta tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Da Matta is staying tight to Kuustonen's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Kuustonen taking a bit of punishment here - Da Matta scoring with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Matta controlling the position from side mount.
Da Matta has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Da Matta decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kuustonen to his feet.
Kuustonen avoids the head kick by Da Matta.
Artur Da Matta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Da Matta closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Da Matta lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuustonen keeping full guard, as Da Matta tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Da Matta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Da Matta is stalling in the full guard.

Kuustonen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Da Matta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Da Matta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kuustonen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Kuustonen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Da Matta passes into side control.
Kuustonen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kuustonen is looking to regain half guard here but Da Matta keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Da Matta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Da Matta fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kuustonen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Da Matta wants to clinch up but Kuustonen keeps it at a distance.
Artur Da Matta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Da Matta changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kuustonen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Da Matta content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Da Matta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Da Matta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuustonen on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Da Matta content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuustonen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Da Matta has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kuustonen tries to buck Da Matta off but Da Matta is having none of it.
Kuustonen is trying to buck Da Matta off.
Da Matta scores with a couple of short elbows.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kuustonen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Da Matta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two 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.
Kuustonen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kuustonen tries to improve position but can't.

Da Matta stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Da Matta feints and as Kuustonen raises his hands in defense, Da Matta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Da Matta got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kuustonen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Da Matta has managed to get both his arms back between Kuustonen's legs - danger averted.
Da Matta is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kuustonen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Da Matta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuustonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Da Matta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Da Matta wants to control from the top but Kuustonen keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Kuustonen working for a triangle but Da Matta defends it easily.

Kuustonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Da Matta wants to control from the top but Kuustonen keeps moving.
Da Matta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuustonen is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kuustonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Da Matta defends well.
Da Matta wants to control from the top but Kuustonen keeps moving.
Kuustonen trying to control the position.
Da Matta's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Kuustonen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Da Matta defends it easily.
Da Matta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artur Da Matta dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Da Matta lands a head kick. Kuustonen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Da Matta goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Da Matta is looking to clinch but Kuustonen is avoiding it.
Da Matta scores with a shot to the body.
Da Matta throws a head kick that misses.

Da Matta gets a takedown into half guard.
Da Matta tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kuustonen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kuustonen actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Da Matta trying to mount his opponent but Kuustonen defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuustonen actively working from the bottom here.
Da Matta not doing much here.
Kuustonen is looking to improve his position.
Da Matta sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kuustonen is looking to improve his position.

That's two 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.
Da Matta sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Artur Da Matta just wasn't active enough.

Kuustonen tries to keep at a distance but Da Matta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Da Matta is working for takedown but Kuustonen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kuustonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Da Matta smiles and moves away.

Da Matta feints and as Kuustonen raises his hands in defense, Da Matta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuustonen working for a triangle but Da Matta defends it easily.
Da Matta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mikko Kuustonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kuustonen is looking for a triangle but Da Matta pushes his legs off easily.
Da Matta controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kuustonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Da Matta defends well.

Kuustonen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Da Matta is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuustonen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Da Matta defends it easily.

Kuustonen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Da Matta is aware though and is defending well.
Da Matta with a nice head shot there.
Da Matta stands and throws Kuustonen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Artur Da Matta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuustonen is looking to reverse the position.
Da Matta trying to control the position but Kuustonen is working away.

Da Matta is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kuustonen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Da Matta thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artur Da Matta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Da Matta 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artur Da Matta!