PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Kuustonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mikko Kuustonen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Brandon Vera's chin.

Vera
vs
Kuustonen

178 cm
25
166 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

200 cm
24
160 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

The Perfect Bloodline Laboratories

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brandon Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikko Kuustonen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuustonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuustonen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Vera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kuustonen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vera is working away from the top position though.
Vera tries to stand and escape but Kuustonen is controlling the position.

Vera is looking for a kimura but Kuustonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vera to get the leverage.
Vera lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Kuustonen actively working from the bottom here.
Vera drops an elbow to the side of Kuustonen's head.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Vera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kuustonen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Vera is working for a kimura but Kuustonen is defending it quite comfortably.

Kuustonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuustonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vera lands a nice short elbow.

Kuustonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vera knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuustonen on the ground.
Kuustonen wants to get back to full guard.
Vera lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kuustonen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Vera scores with a couple of nice shots.

Kuustonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kuustonen looks gassed!
Vera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vera lands a nice short elbow.
Vera slips a nice elbow through Kuustonen's hands, connecting with Kuustonen's forehead.

Vera decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kuustonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vera misses with a kick to the body.

Vera gets the takedown into side control.
Kuustonen is trying to improve his position.
Kuustonen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vera is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuustonen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kuustonen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kuustonen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kuustonen's back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Vera is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Kuustonen. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Kuustonen trying to get back to his feet but Vera is in full control for now.
Vera throwing damaging strikes from the back! Kuustonen could be in trouble here!
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Vera.
Kuustonen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Vera fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kuustonen is looking to improve his position but Vera isn't that keen on the idea.
Kuustonen is bucking up trying to escape but Vera cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Kuustonen is rocked!
Kuustonen taking shots to the head.
Kuustonen is still in real trouble! Can Vera finish him?
Vera lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Vera working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vera unloading with bombs!
Vera unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Kuustonen wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Vera celebrates on the ropes and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Brandon Vera!