PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rou Joukani (ranked 1958 p4p, 2738 weight class) and Russ Smith (ranked 277 p4p, 376 weight class). Russ Smith has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rou Joukani's chin.

Joukani
vs
Smith

179 cm
24
175
9 - 6 - 0

180 cm
24
171
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rou Joukani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Russ Smith!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joukani ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Smith lands a nice shot to the body.
Smith jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Joukani avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith dips to his left and cracks Joukani with an uppercut!
Joukani looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Joukani scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Joukanis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Joukani takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Joukani avoids the body shot from Smith.
Joukani lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Smith scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joukani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith goes for a double leg but Joukani avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Joukani continues to drive forward.
An attempted straight right counter from Joukani misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a hook. Joukani ducked under it nicely.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Smith takes a swing at Joukani's ribcage but misses.
Joukani lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Russ Smith has been cut.
Joukani pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith misses with a hook. Joukani ducked under it nicely.
Joukani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Joukani defends it well.
Joukani throws a low kick, looking for Smith's leg but Smith calmly moves out of range.
Smith changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smith jabs Joukani to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Good leg kick by Joukani.
Joukani keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.
Joukani goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slow jab from Joukani misses its intended target.
Joukani uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Joukani uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smith.
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Joukani avoids it.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joukani circles away.
Joukani feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smiths jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A head kick misses from Joukani.
Joukani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Joukani, which made it look bad.
Rou Joukani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russ Smith.
A telegraphed right hand from Smith misses the target.

Smith fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joukani to the ground. Smith is now in Joukani's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Joukani's head.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Joukani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Joukani is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Joukani preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Joukani utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joukani avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Joukani looking for a sweep. Not yet Joukani, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Joukani staying out of range there.
Smith lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joukani throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.

Smith shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Joukani's guard.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Joukani has wrist control.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Russ Smith's cut.
That's time! Joukani's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Joukani's half guard.
Smith is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Smith works his way into full mount!
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith is continuing to stall.
Russ Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith avoids the attempt from Joukani to control.
Joukani knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Smith working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Joukani but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith throwing strikes here but Joukani is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Smith lands with some strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith looking to ground and pound but Joukani is blocking nicely.
Smith scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Smith looking to finish Joukani with some ground and pound. This is bad for Joukani!
Smith can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Joukani is looking to escape.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing strikes from the mount and Joukani is in trouble!
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Smith raining down hammerfists from mount.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!
Smith wants to control the pace but Joukani is squirming around nicely.
Smith scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joukani?
Smith takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Joukani?
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Joukani looks a forlorn figure.

Joukani is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Smith unloading with bombs!
Joukani is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.

Smith is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Joukani has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Joukani!
Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joukani wanted to stand there but Smith had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith controlling the position.
Joukani wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Joukani gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Joukani on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Joukani moved out of range nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big left from Smith misses.
Joukani thinks about countering with a head kick.
Rou Joukani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith moves out of range as Joukani throws a body kick.
Smith lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russ Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Russ Smith's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith misses with a straight left.
Joukani is looking for a counter combo.
Joukani avoids the body shot from Smith.
Russ Smith seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joukani lands a lovely overhand right.
Smith pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Joukani. Joukani obviously looking to wear him down.
Joukani throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Joukani misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Joukani is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Joukani.
Smith throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joukani moves away.
Smith swings for the body but Joukani moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Joukani.
Joukani moves forwards but Smith connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Joukani moves away.
Joukani stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Joukani wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith avoids the head kick by Joukani.
Joukani throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smith.
Smith throws a body punch but Joukani moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Joukani misses its target.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Smith misses with a body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Rou Joukani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with the ground and pound.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.

Smith thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Joukani dodges the ground and pound from Smith.
Joukani on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Joukani tries to get out of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith trying to control the action but Joukani is working from the bottom.
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is staying tight to Joukani's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Smith is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Joukani has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smith lands an elbow.
Russ Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith happy to just control the position for now.
Let's hope that Smith has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Joukani is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith working the ground and pound but Joukani is defending the strikes.
Smith just content to control the position.

Smith tries for a kimura but Joukani is defending well.
Smith is staying tight to Joukani's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russ Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russ Smith!