PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodolfo Gusman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pentti Hirvonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gusman might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to La sonora santanera - El santo, el cavernario. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gusman
vs
Hirvonen

180 cm
26
191 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

185 cm
24
196 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodolfo Gusman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pentti Hirvonen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gusman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen shoots for a double leg takedown but Gusman sprawls well. He's pushed Hirvonen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Gusman shoots in and gets a takedown into Hirvonen's guard.

Hirvonen throws his legs up looking for a submission but Gusman uses it to pass to side control.
Hirvonen tries to buck Gusman off but Gusman is having none of it.
A lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hirvonen stops Gusman from passing to mount.
Hirvonen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Hirvonen actively working from the bottom here.
Hirvonen is looking for a sweep. Gusman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gusman controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirvonen is looking for a sweep. Gusman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gusman wants to take a breather but Hirvonen is having none of it.
Hirvonen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gusman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hirvonen on the ground.
Hirvonen is staying active underneath Gusman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hirvonen wants to improve his position but Gusman is controlling well.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rodolfo Gusman just wasn't active enough.
Hirvonen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gusman counters with a single leg into guard. Hirvonen didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen looking for a sweep. Not yet Hirvonen, not yet.
Gusman wants to pass the guard but Hirvonen is keeping the position.
Gusman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Hirvonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gusman is stalling in the full guard.
Gusman wants to stand but Hirvonen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gusman tries to free his leg and advance position but Hirvonen is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusman stopping the sweep attempt from Hirvonen.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rodolfo Gusman just wasn't active enough.
Gusman throws an overhand right that lands on Hirvonen's shoulder, as Hirvonen tries to avoid the shot.
Gusman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hirvonen.
Gusman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hirvonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gusman.
Gusman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gusman. Hirvonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hirvonen tries for a takedown but Gusman circles away easily
and Gusman counters with a straight right hand.
Rodolfo Gusman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pentti Hirvonen.
Hirvonen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gusman has managed to clinch.
Hirvonen gets underhooks to prevent Gusman's takedown attempt.
Hirvonen takes a shot to the head.
Hirvonen fails to pull guard.
Gusman wants a takedown.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gusman.

Hirvonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hirvonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gusman misses with a straight right.
Gusman shoots in and drives through. Hirvonen sprawls well.
Hirvonen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Gusman looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hirvonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gusman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hirvonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodolfo Gusman dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hirvonen misses with a low kick.
Hirvonen shoots and misses

and Gusman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gusman.
Hirvonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hirvonen trying to keep a closed guard but Gusman is proving a slippery customer.
Gusman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirvonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hirvonen controls Gusman momentarily but Gusman frees himself.
Gusman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirvonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Gusman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Hirvonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirvonen 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.

Hirvonen working for a triangle but Gusman defends it easily.
Gusman wants to control from the top but Hirvonen keeps moving.
Gusman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hirvonen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hirvonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hirvonen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gusman stopping the sweep attempt from Hirvonen.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rodolfo Gusman wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hirvonen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gusman throws the left hand but Hirvonen avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Hirvonen.

Gusman drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gusman won't allow Hirvonen to sweep him here.

Hirvonen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusman trying to control but Hirvonen is working from the bottom.
Hirvonen controls Gusman momentarily but Gusman frees himself.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Hirvonen looking for a guillotine here but Gusman defends easily.

Gusman stands up from Hirvonen's guard - Gusman perhaps looking for a knockout.

Gusman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hirvonen to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusman keeping full guard, as Hirvonen tries to pass.
Gusman wants to get back to his feet but Hirvonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hirvonen throwing strikes but missing.

Gusman has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hirvonen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Gusman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hirvonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gusman throws a body punch but Hirvonen moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodolfo Gusman dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gusman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hirvonen's half guard.

Hirvonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gusman prevents Hirvonen from improving his position.
Gusman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Gusman prevents Hirvonen from improving his position.
Gusman controlling the pace.
Hirvonen moves into full guard.
Hirvonen keeping moving, preventing Gusman from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Rodolfo Gusman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Gusman tries to clinch up but Hirvonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Hirvonen swings away with a body shot that misses

and Gusman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gusman.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hirvonen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gusman!
Gusman tries to buck Hirvonen off but he can't manage it.
Rodolfo Gusman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hirvonen looking to control but Gusman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hirvonen cracks Gusman with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Poor strikes thrown by Hirvonen there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gusman wants to get back to his feet.

Hirvonen wants to finish this one by submission but Gusman is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hirvonen.
Rodolfo Gusman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen misses with a head shot.
Hirvonen trying to control but Gusman is having none of it.
Gusman trying desperately to get to his feet.
Gusman is bucking up trying to escape but Hirvonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gusman really wants to buck Hirvonen off and get back to his feet.
Hirvonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gusman is looking to escape.
Hirvonen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Gusman bucks up and throws Hirvonen to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Good work by Gusman as he checks the leg kick.
Gusman swats away the attempt to clinch by Hirvonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gusman as he avoids it easily.
Gusman loads up on a big right hand but Hirvonen slips the punch.
Hirvonen slips a straight right by Gusman.
Hirvonen throws a low kick but Gusman avoids it.

Hirvonen gets caught flat footed, as Gusman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hirvonen working a defensive guard here.
Gusman stopping the sweep attempt from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gusman manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen pushes down on Gusman's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gusman is trying to stand back up but Hirvonen is controlling him
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hirvonen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hirvonen is keen to just control but Gusman is a slippery customer.
Gusman looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gusman won't allow Hirvonen to pass to mount.

Hirvonen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gusman defends it well.
Hirvonen is keen to just control but Gusman is a slippery customer.
Hirvonen stops Gusman from getting back to his feet.
Pentti Hirvonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hirvonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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 Rodolfo Gusman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gusman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodolfo Gusman!