PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samoa Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martti Metsonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metsonen has chosen - as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Samoa Joe is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Joe
vs
Metsonen

179 cm
22
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
197 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samoa Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Martti Metsonen!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Metsonen.
Joe is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Metsonen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Metsonen working the body and head with strikes.
Joe is looking for a sweep.
Metsonen lands some shots froms side control.
Joe tries to escape but Metsonen is in control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Metsonen off and has taken his back!
Joe doesn't have the hooks in and Metsonen manages to turn into his guard.
Metsonen passes Joe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Metsonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Metsonen lands strikes from half guard.
Joe looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe has hold of Metsonen's hands but Metsonen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Metsonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Metsonen wants to pass the guard but Joe is defending well.
Metsonen prevents Joe from improving his position.
Metsonen working Joe over with strikes.
Metsonen stops Joe from getting back to his feet.

Metsonen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Metsonen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Joe wants to get back to full guard.
Joe is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metsonen trying to pass the guard but Joe defending well.
Metsonen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Metsonen there.
Joe wants to improve his position but Metsonen is controlling well.
Metsonen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Joe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Joe tries to get to full guard but Metsonen has control of the leg.
Metsonen working the head and body with strikes.
Joe is looking to get back to full guard here but Metsonen has managed to pass to side control instead.
Metsonen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Joe tries to hold on but Metsonen postures up.
Metsonen prevents Joe from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe is working hard here to advance position.
Joe is bucking up trying to escape but Metsonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Joe is in all sorts of trouble here.
BOOM! Metsonen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Joe working to try and regain half guard.
Metsonen with the ground and pound from mount.
Metsonen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Metsonen working Joe over with strikes here.
Metsonen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Metsonen raining down shots from the mount!
Metsonen landing punches.
Metsonen with shots to the head and body - Joe looks very uncomfortable down there.

Metsonen is working for a guillotine from mount but Joe frees his head quite easily.
Metsonen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Metsonen has control of Joe's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Joe regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Metsonen prevents Joe from getting the reversal.
Metsonen won't let Joe get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Joe sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Joe regains full guard. Nicely done.
Metsonen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Metsonen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Joe working for a triangle but Metsonen defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Metsonen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martti Metsonen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Joe shoots in for a double leg but Metsonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joe lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Samoa Joe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Metsonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Metsonen rushes Joe and presses him up against the cage.
Joe is trying to drag Metsonen to the mat but Metsonen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Metsonen presses Joe against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Metsonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Metsonen scores a nice knee to the body.
Metsonen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Metsonen lands a knee to the head.

Metsonen gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Joe regains guard.
Metsonen landing some decent shots from guard.
Metsonen postures up and lands a big shot to Joe's brow.
Metsonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Joe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Joe had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Metsonen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Joe Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Metsonen's back instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metsonen is trying to stand back up.
Metsonen covering up well under a series of strikes from Joe.
Metsonen grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Joe doesn't have the hooks in and Metsonen manages to turn into his guard.
Joe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Joe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Metsonen.
Metsonen won't allow Joe to get back to his feet.

Metsonen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Metsonen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A combination from Metsonen does no damage.
Metsonen throws a sloppy head kick and Joe moves out of range easily.
Metsonen wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Joe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Metsonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Joe lands with a hook. Metsonen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Metsonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Joe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Metsonen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samoa Joe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Metsonen preventing the sweep.
Metsonen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Metsonen scoring with some ground and pound.
Joe is trying to control the position but Metsonen postures up.
Joe wants to get back to his feet but Metsonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Metsonen slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metsonen winds up and cracks Joe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Joe leaves Metsonen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Joe blocks a head kick by Metsonen.
A nice combination there by Joe.
Joe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joe fails to land the takedown.
Samoa Joe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Metsonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Metsonen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Joe did well to prevent Metsonen getting side control.
Metsonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Joe is trying to stand.
Joe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metsonen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Metsonen.
Joe trying to control from the bottom.
Metsonen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Metsonen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Joe.
Joe scores with a punch to the head.
Metsonen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Metsonen lands a head kick!
Joe darts in trying to clinch

and Metsonen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Metsonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Joe changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Metsonen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Metsonen misses with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Metsonen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martti Metsonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Metsonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Joe connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Metsonen's hands.

Metsonen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Metsonen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joe defending well though.
Joe wants to get back to his feet.
Joe is looking to improve his position.
Joe is trying to stand.
Martti Metsonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joe wants to improve his position but Metsonen is controlling well.
Metsonen working over Joe with some ground and pound. Joe looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Metsonen connects with a nice short shot to Joe's temple.
Joe tries to get to full guard but Metsonen has control of the leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Metsonen throws a series of punches but Joe moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Metsonen lands a high kick!

Metsonen forces Joe back against the cage and clinches.
Metsonen landing knees to the body.
Joe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Metsonen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Metsonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Joe takes a knee right on the jaw!

Metsonen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Metsonen manages to end up in side control.
Metsonen cracks Joe with a big elbow.
Metsonen in side control, throwing shots but Joe defends.
Joe tries to buck Metsonen off but Metsonen is having none of it.
Metsonen scoring with punches from side control.

Metsonen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Joe sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Samoa Joe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Metsonen there.
Metsonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Metsonen seems to be looking for submissions.

Joe actively working from the bottom here.
Joe wants to control but Metsonen is keeping busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Metsonen connects with a nice short shot to Joe's temple.
Joe wants to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Metsonen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Joe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Metsonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samoa Joe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Metsonen lands a knee to the body.
Metsonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Joe drops down looking for an ankle pick but Metsonen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Metsonen lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Metsonen clinches with his opponent.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Metsonen.
Joe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Metsonen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Metsonen lands a damaging elbow.
Metsonen lands a shoulder strike.
Metsonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Metsonen landing knees to the head.
Metsonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Joe.
Metsonen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Metsonen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Metsonen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Metsonen working Joe over with knees to the body.
Metsonen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Joe looking for a takedown.
Metsonen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Joe tries for a takedown. No joy.
Martti Metsonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Metsonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short right from Metsonen on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe tries to score a body lock takedown but Metsonen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Metsonen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Joe takes a knee right on the jaw!
Metsonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Metsonen scores with a shot to the side of Joe's head.
Joe is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Metsonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Joe's face.

Metsonen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Joe wants to get back to his feet.
Metsonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Joe is trying to stand up here but Metsonen is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martti Metsonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Metsonen 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martti Metsonen!