|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bean Bryant (ranked 2790 p4p, 2234 weight class) and Juha Niska (ranked 406 p4p, 337 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 188 cm
27
215
12 - 12 - 0 |
|
193 cm
38
212
30 - 22 - 1 |
Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin |
|
Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bean Bryant !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick from Niska, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bryant drives through and clinches with Niska against the cage.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niska managing to block the knees to the body from Bryant .
Bryant is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Niska pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Niska breaks from the clinch.
Bryant lands a jab-cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Niska looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Niska lands a head kick!
It looks like Bean Bryant has been cut.
Bryant lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Niska at a distance.
Niska is looking to land body kicks.
Niska defending well as Bryant loads up on a big left hand.
Niska now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bryant scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Donk. Bryant catches Niska right on the button with a cross.
Bean Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses.
Bryant throws a body punch but Niska moves out of range.
Bryant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bryant moves into the clinch successfully.
Niska scores with a shoulder strike.
Bryant tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Bryant prevents a body shot from Niska.
Niska tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bryant avoids it.
Bryant tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Niska gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bryant .
Bryant trying to land knees to the body.
Bryant misses with some punches.
Bryant trying to land knees to the body.
Niska has Bryant pushed against the cage.
Niska has Bryant pushed against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bryant backwards.
Bryant tries to work over Niska's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bryant misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bryant trying to land knees to the body.
Bryant trying to land knees to the body.
Niska avoiding damage as Bryant throws knees to the body.
Niska just leaning against Bryant , taking a breather.
Niska is pushing Bryant up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Stalling in the clinch from Niska.
Niska blocks an uppercut.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Niska is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Niska throws a head punch that misses.
Niska throws a head punch that misses.
Bryant misses with a hook to the ribs.
Niska on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niska lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bryant putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
I was talking to Bryant 's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Niska softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Niska lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Niska tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bryant tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Niska's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Niska gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bryant is looking to pass into half guard but Niska pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Niska is in guard.
Bryant manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Niska manages to get himself to full guard.
Bryant missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Niska can't keep his opponent in guard - Bryant advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Niska manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Bryant misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bryant shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bean Bryant . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niska throws a hook to the side of Bryant 's head but Bryant sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bryant slips under a jab.
Bryant tries a head kick but it misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bean Bryant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bean Bryant 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Bryant shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Niska flicks out a counter leg kick but Bryant steps away.
Bryant throws a lazy right hand but Niska sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niska clinches up with Bryant and pushes him back against the cage.
Bryant tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
Niska pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niska tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bryant manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Bryant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bryant tries to land a body kick
and Niska counters with a good low kick that Bryant was not able to check.
Bryant throws a lazy head kick
and Niska counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Niska lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Niska is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bryant throws a poor cross that misses
and Niska counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bryant pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bryant throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Niska is looking for the big counter here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niska misses with a few strikes there.
Niska lands with a shot to the body.
Niska tests Bryant 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bean Bryant 's cut is getting worse.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant walks into a stiff left hand from Niska.
A head kick misses from Niska.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Niska swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Niska tries to clinch up.
It looked like Bryant was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Niska has closed the distance and engaged Bryant in a clinch.
Bryant landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Niska dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Bryant tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Niska fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
Bryant is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bryant missing with knees to the body.
Bryant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bryant tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Niska's elbow.
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
Niska content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bryant tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Niska lands a hook that snaps the head of Bryant backwards.
Niska is struggling to control the position.
Bryant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niska blocking some punches.
Bryant misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
Bean Bryant has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
Bryant misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
Bryant misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bryant unloads a knee to the mid-section.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niska digs a right hand into Bryant 's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bryant 's gas tank.
Bryant trying to land knees to the body.
Bryant missing with knees to the body.
Niska managing to block the knees to the body from Bryant .
Niska holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Niska breaks the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Niska.
Bryant scoring well with a low kick there.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses.
Bryant backing away here, and Niska unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Niska paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bryant feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Niska has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bryant has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niska prevents a takedown attempt there.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bryant as Niska tries to tie him up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bryant obliges.
Niska breaks the clinch.
Bryant fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bean Bryant . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niska has Bryant up against the cage in a clinch.
Niska is stalling here.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bryant lands a nice knee to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Juha Niska showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bean Bryant 's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Bryant moves into the clinch.
Bryant misses with some punches.
Niska pushes Bryant back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bryant tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Bryant 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bryant drops down looking for an ankle pick but Niska pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bryant throws a sloppy head kick
and Niska counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bryant throws a head kick that misses.
Bryant tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Niska tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bryant with a poor takedown
and Niska counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bryant thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska gets a clinch.
Bryant goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Niska lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bryant backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niska scores a nice knee to the body.
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!
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Niska blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
Niska leaning his opponent against the cage.
Bryant tries to throw a body punch but Niska avoids it by throwing Bryant back against the cage.
Come on Niska - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bryant manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Niska slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant working a defensive guard but Niska passes into half guard.
Niska stalling.
Bryant wants to get back to full guard.
Bryant moves into full guard.
Bryant looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Niska puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Niska controlling the action here.
Bryant is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Niska jumps into side control!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is looking for a sweep.
Niska is staying tight to Bryant 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Bryant tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Niska wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bryant seems a little lost for a moment, as Niska dominates the positioning.
Bryant is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Niska prevents Bryant from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niska trying to pass the guard but Bryant defending well.
Niska passes the guard and advances to mount!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is trying desperately to improve position.
Niska controlling from the full mount.
Niska wants to control the pace but Bryant is squirming around nicely.
Bryant is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niska unloading with bombs!
Bryant really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Niska comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Niska 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juha Niska!
Juha Niska decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
55% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
