PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Iivari Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lee Armstrong will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kuusela
vs
Armstrong

160 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Merciless Gladiators
GREEN!160

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Iivari Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lee Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong lands a jab-cross combination.
Armstrong throws a sloppy head kick and Kuusela moves out of range easily.
Kuusela could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Armstrong misses with a double jab.
Kuusela blocks a head kick by Armstrong.

Kuusela closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kuusela is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kuusela is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Armstrong is defending well.

Kuusela works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Armstrong managing to control the position.
Kuusela slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela forces his way into half guard.
Kuusela content to control rather than advance.
Kuusela looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Iivari Kuusela has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Armstrong throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuusela.
Armstrong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Armstrong.
Armstrong throws a head kick but Kuusela moves out of range.
Armstrong throws a right and a left that both miss.
Armstrong lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Armstrong lands with a nice combination. Kuusela backs away looking to recover.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusela misses with a takedown attempt - Armstrong sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iivari Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuusela has closed the distance and engaged Armstrong in a clinch.

Armstrong is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kuusela is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Armstrong to the mat. Armstrong regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela stays in close to Armstrong's body and controls the position.
Kuusela stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Armstrong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuusela controlling from the top position.

Kuusela has gone for a leg lock! Armstrong slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kuusela's guard.
Kuusela looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuusela, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kuusela working for a triangle but Armstrong defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is trying to keep Armstrong in close.

Kuusela is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Armstrong has his hands clasped together but Kuusela extends and breaks Armstrong's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Kuusela.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Iivari Kuusela!