PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armo Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Freedom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuusela kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Promentory. Freedom has chosen Johnny Freedom as his entrance music. Armo Kuusela had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kuusela
vs
Freedom

192 cm
42
195 lbs
43 - 22 - 2

180 cm
31
194 lbs
25 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Sun-Tzu

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 43 - 22 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Armo Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Johnny Freedom!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freedom lands with an overhand left.
Freedom throws a wild body kick that Kuusela sees coming a mile off.
Freedom wants to slow Kuusela down by chopping away at his legs.
Kuusela throws a looping overhand right but Freedom ducks down to avoid it.
Good exchange - Kuusela coming out on top.
Freedom just misses with a punch to the body.
Freedom throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A counter left hand to the body from Kuusela misses its target.
Freedom throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kuusela thuds his shin into the meat of Freedom's side.
Freedom throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuusela throwing a counter right hand but Freedom manages to avoid it.
Freedom stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kuusela.
Kuusela doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Freedom is looking to clinch but Kuusela is avoiding it.
Kuusela is looking to counter with a body kick.
Freedom sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freedom avoids a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Freedom. Kuusela does a little dance to reset his feet.
Freedom tries to score with a low kick but Kuusela moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Freedom counters with a straight right hand.
Freedom throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kuusela throws a low kick, looking for Freedom's leg but Freedom calmly moves out of range.

Freedom gets tackled into the cage by Kuusela. Kuusela maintains the clinch.
Kuusela with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuusela lands a left hand.
Kuusela throws a head punch that misses.
Freedom landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Freedom breaks the clinch.
Freedom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuusela swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kuusela.
Freedom slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Freedom scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A jab lands there for Kuusela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Freedom. That's going to slow Kuusela down.
Freedom scoring well with a low kick there.
Kuusela looks to score with a jab to the body but Freedom is just out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Freedom.
Freedom throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kuusela misses with a double jab.
Freedom avoids the body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Freedom finds it's way round the side to connect with Kuusela's head.
Freedom throws a sloppy head kick and Kuusela moves out of range easily.
Kuusela avoids the body shot from Freedom.
Freedom closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Freedom lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Freedom fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kuusela takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Johnny Freedom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedom throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kuusela.
Kuusela avoids the head kick by Freedom.
Freedom is looking to score with low kicks.
Freedom lands a body shot.
Freedom lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kuusela at a distance.
Kuusela with a hook.
Freedom chopping away at his opponent's legs.
An inside leg kick lands from Kuusela.
Kuusela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Freedom.
Kuusela is looking to counter the offense by Freedom and move into the clinch.
Freedom lands a nice shot that snaps Kuusela's head back.
Freedom throws a leg kick
and Kuusela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Freedom connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Freedom lands the left hand.
Freedom has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freedom misses with a left hand
and Kuusela counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A leg kick checked by Kuusela.
A swing and a miss from Freedom.
Kuusela checks the leg kick nicely there.
As Freedom tries to get set, Kuusela tries to push him back and clinch up but Freedom manages to avoid the attempt.
Freedom doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Freedom throws a shot from downtown. Kuusela moves away and avoids it.
As Freedom backs away, Kuusela returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kuusela shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Freedom looks to land a left hand but Kuusela moved out of range nicely.
Kuusela appears to be looking for a big counter.
Freedom throws a hook but Kuusela avoids it easily.
Freedom is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Kuusela had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Kuusela clinches.
Kuusela digs a right hand underneath Freedom's ribcage. Freedom let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuusela misses with a knee strike.
Freedom blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kuusela keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Freedom's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Freedom dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Freedom finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Freedom jabs Kuusela right on the nose. Kuusela blinks but takes it well.
Kuusela lands with a good body shot.
Freedom misses with a kick to the body.
And Kuusela counters with a quick kick to the body but Freedom blocks it.
Kuusela keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Freedom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kuusela avoids the body shot from Freedom.
Kuusela throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Freedom misses with a body kick.
Freedom connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kuusela momentarily.
Kuusela blocks the body kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kuusela.
Kuusela is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
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!
Kuusela tries to land a front kick but Freedom steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kuusela scores with a sloppy right hand. Freedom should have avoided that one.
Kuusela takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela throws a body shot but no joy.
Freedom tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kuusela is able to avoid easily.
Freedom scores with a jab to the body.
Freedom throws a leg kick
and Kuusela counters with a thumping low kick.
Freedom scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Freedom throws a series of punches but Kuusela moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and Kuusela tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Freedom connects with a leg kick. Kuusela looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Freedom tries a head kick but it misses.
Decent striking displayed by Kuusela there.
Freedom throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kuusela counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Freedom walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
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!
An inside leg kick lands from Freedom.
Freedom with a nice cross.
Kuusela scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kuusela chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Freedom gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kuusela moves out of range as Freedom strikes.
Kuusela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kuusela takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Freedom lands with a straight right. Kuusela didn't see that one coming.
Kuusela punishes Freedom's body with a nice straight punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Freedom darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Johnny Freedom seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuusela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freedom moves away.
Freedom throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kuusela paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Freedom takes a swing at Kuusela's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedom looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Freedom buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Kuusela!
Freedom is breathing heavily.
Freedom ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kuusela moves away.
Freedom throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kuusela just misses with a punch to the body.
Freedom takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
It seemed like Freedom was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kuusela cracks Freedom with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Freedom attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kuusela throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Freedom wants to counter with a clinch but Kuusela pushes him away.
Freedom misses with a left hand
and Kuusela counters with a slapping leg kick.
Freedom lands a nice looking body shot.
Kuusela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Freedom.
Freedom throws a low kick but Kuusela moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freedom misses with a wild body shot.
Good exchange - Freedom coming out on top.
Kuusela throws out a powerful jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusela wants to clinch up but Freedom keeps it at a distance.
Freedom misses with a series of wild punches.
Kuusela throws a leg kick but Freedom checks it.
Freedom throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kuusela was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Freedom misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kuusela jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Kuusela ducks under a wild hook from Freedom.
Freedom checks the leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Freedom. Kuusela shrugs it off though.
Freedom throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kuusela counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuusela misses with a low kick.
Freedom throws a big counter head kick but Kuusela avoids it with no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Armo Kuusela will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Freedom. That's going to slow Kuusela down.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Freedom misses with a body punch.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Freedom controls his hands.
Freedom tries to break free but Kuusela pushes him back against the cage.
Freedom unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kuusela lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Freedom scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuusela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Freedom lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freedom has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Freedom displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kuusela up against the cage.
Freedom misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuusela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Freedom tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kuusela was well out of range. Poor timing from Freedom.
Kuusela throws a nice looking combination but Freedom bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A slow jab from Freedom misses its intended target.
Freedom misses with a wild body shot.
Kuusela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freedom was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuusela.
Kuusela cracks Freedom with a right hand to the side of the head.
Freedom uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuusela.
Freedom pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kuusela is out of range and Freedom settles back down.
Kuusela's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Freedom connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kuusela scrambles back to his feet.
Freedom lands with a kick to the ribs.
Freedom connects with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Freedom.
Freedom lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Freedom, as that shot connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice jab there from Freedom.
Freedom throws a chopping leg kick but Kuusela manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Freedom tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kuusela was well out of range. Poor timing from Freedom.
Freedom looks to land a right hand but Kuusela moved out of range.
Freedom's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Freedom jabs at Kuusela's body.
Donk. Freedom catches Kuusela right on the button with a cross.
Crunch! Freedom slams his shin into Kuusela's torso.
Freedom fails to land with a series of punches.
Freedom misses with a low kick.
It looked like Kuusela was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Freedom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Freedom takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Freedom wants to land a leg kick but Kuusela is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedom pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kuusela is looking to counter with a body kick.
Nice body punch from Kuusela.
Kuusela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freedom was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuusela.
Kuusela looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Freedom fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Freedom throws a jab when Kuusela was well out of range.
Kuusela feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kuusela lands with a straight right. Freedom didn't see that one coming.
A shot to the body from Freedom misses
enabling Kuusela to counter with a crisp jab.
Freedom moves out of range of the leg kick from Kuusela.
Freedom moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kuusela doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Freedom throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Freedom motions for Kuusela to come forward. Freedom throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kuusela swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Freedom misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Freedom is able to avoid easily.
Freedom doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kuusela closes the distance and pushes Freedom back into the cage.
Freedom tries a body shot but Kuusela blocks it.

Freedom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuusela throws a jab when Freedom was well out of range.
Kuusela misses with a body kick.
Freedom wants to counter the offense by Kuusela and move into the clinch position.
Freedom comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fighters circling - Freedom throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuusela was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kuusela lands with a thumping leg kick.
Freedom just misses with a punch to the body.
Freedom ducks under a wild hook from Kuusela.
Freedom steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kuusela.
Kuusela slips under a jab.
Freedom takes a shot right to the bread basket.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Freedom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Freedom has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Freedom!
Johnny Freedom managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Sun-Tzu, into his post fight interview.