PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armo Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Bolda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kuusela might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Promentory. The crowd seem to be enjoying Bolda's choice of entrance music: Fett's Vette. Josh Bolda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuusela
vs
Bolda

192 cm
38
195 lbs
33 - 17 - 2

185 cm
31
203 lbs
19 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 33 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Armo Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Josh Bolda!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolda connects with a right hand. Kuusela shakes it off.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Bolda has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Bolda lands with a straight right. Kuusela didn't see that one coming.
Bolda throws an off balance right hand
and Kuusela counters with a good low kick that Bolda was not able to check.
Kuusela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bolda was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuusela.
Kuusela ducks under a wild hook from Bolda.
Kuusela takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kuusela moves away from the strike by Bolda.
Kuusela swings away with a body shot that misses

and Bolda counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Bolda is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bolda throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bolda prevents Kuusela from standing back up.
Bolda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuusela wants to control but Bolda is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolda prevents Kuusela from improving his position.

Bolda wants to work for an arm triangle but Kuusela is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Bolda looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kuusela tries to roll over but Bolda keeps him under control.

Bolda is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kuusela is just riding it out for now. Bolda eventually gives up the hold.
Kuusela is trying to stand up here but Bolda is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is trying to maintain the position but Bolda is very close to passing his half guard.
Bolda moves nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuusela is trying to control Bolda's posture but Bolda avoids it.

Bolda is trying to get an arm triangle but Kuusela is defending well.
Bolda is working Kuusela over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kuusela can't do much from the bottom here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is not content to let Bolda control the position.

Bolda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kuusela, who protects the arm well.
Kuusela is looking to regain half guard here but Bolda keeps moving and retains side control.
Kuusela is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Kuusela is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kuusela can't do much from the bottom here.
Kuusela is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuusela keeps working.
Bolda working the ground and pound from side control.
Kuusela struggling a bit here.
Kuusela is holding Bolda down, trying to stall.

Bolda is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuusela knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bolda is looking to take a break and control but Kuusela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusela pushes Bolda away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bolda gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Bolda dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bolda misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kuusela slips under a jab.
Kuusela just misses with a punch to the body.
Bolda throws a hook but Kuusela avoids it easily.
Kuusela uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bolda.
Bolda throws a looping overhand right but Kuusela ducks down to avoid it.
Kuusela throws a hook but Bolda blocks it.
Bolda moves out of range of the body kick.
Bolda tries for a takedown but Kuusela sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Bolda misses its intended target.
Kuusela throws a chopping leg kick but Bolda manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuusela.

Bolda throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuusela tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bolda is in Kuusela's guard.
Bolda stopping the sweep attempt from Kuusela.

Kuusela is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bolda not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bolda's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuusela looking to control.
Kuusela wants to get back to his feet but Bolda is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bolda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bolda wants to control from the top but Kuusela keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bolda with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bolda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bolda looking to pass the guard.
Bolda stopping the sweep attempt from Kuusela.

Bolda avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bolda looking to pass the guard.
Kuusela is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bolda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuusela swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kuusela is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bolda tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuusela is retaining full guard.
Bolda scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kuusela is trying to control the position but Bolda postures up.
Bolda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuusela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuusela wants to control the position but Bolda says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Bolda is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bolda sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuusela defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela gets back to full guard.
Bolda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kuusela lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bolda!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bolda working to try and regain half guard.
Bolda is squirming around, avoiding Kuusela's attempts to control the action.
Kuusela tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bolda tries to lock up and control but Kuusela gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Bolda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bolda steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuusela.

Bolda decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Josh Bolda has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bolda working Kuusela over with strikes.
Kuusela tries to roll over but Bolda keeps him under control.
Kuusela trying to hold on to Bolda's head to control him but Bolda postures up.

Bolda looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kuusela is trying to stand back up but Bolda is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolda is thwarting Kuusela's attempts to control the position.
Kuusela is refusing to be controlled, as Bolda sits in half guard.
Bolda working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bolda throwing shots but Kuusela is blocking nicely.

Kuusela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuusela is trying to maintain the position but Bolda is very close to passing his half guard.
Bolda is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kuusela is trying to escape the mount.

Bolda jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kuusela manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela trying to remain calm as Bolda controls from the top position.
Kuusela tries to buck Bolda off but Bolda is having none of it.
Bolda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kuusela avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bolda.
Bolda working the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bolda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kuusela tries to bench press Bolda off him but Bolda keeps the position.

Bolda is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kuusela has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kuusela is looking for a sweep.
Armo Kuusela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolda working the head and body with strikes.
Kuusela tries to escape but Bolda is in control.
Bolda in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bolda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuusela keeps working.
Kuusela is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bolda has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Bolda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kuusela is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bolda tries to advance to mount but can't.
Kuusela is not content to let Bolda control the position.
Kuusela is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bolda has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Kuusela is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bolda prevents Kuusela from getting the reversal.
Oh Kuusela is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Bolda is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Bolda!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Josh Bolda!
Josh Bolda very nearly forgot to thank GREEN!160 amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.