PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joonatan Roinatan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emil Costas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Joonatan Roinatan has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Roinatan
vs
Costas

177 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
24
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonatan Roinatan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Emil Costas!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roinatan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Costas rushes Roinatan and presses him up against the cage.
Costas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Roinatan's efforts to push away.
Costas is trying to force a seperation but Roinatan has the dominant position.
Costas keeps control of Roinatan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Roinatan avoiding damage as Costas throws knees to the body.
Roinatan tries to circle away but Costas has him pinned against the cage.
Roinatan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Costas misses with a punch on the inside.
Roinatan is trying to force a seperation but Costas has the dominant position.
Roinatan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Roinatan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Costas's face.
Costas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The referee is keeping an eye on Roinatan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costas scores with a hook to the body.
Roinatan blocks the elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Roinatan tries to pull guard but Costas holds him up against the cage and eventually Roinatan drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roinatan is looking to break free of the clinch but Costas has double underhooks.
Costas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roinatan.
A right handed body shot lands from Costas.
Costas scores with a shoulder strike.
Costas presses Roinatan against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Costas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roinatan has him pressed against the cage.
Roinatan tries to pull guard but Costas holds him up against the cage and eventually Roinatan drops back down to his feet.
Roinatan is trying to force a seperation but Costas has the dominant position.
Costas is struggling to control the position.
Roinatan tries to score a body lock takedown but Costas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joonatan Roinatan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Costas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roinatan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Roinatan throws a head kick that misses.
Costas throws a low kick but it's checked well by Roinatan.
Emil Costas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Costas cracks Roinatan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Roinatan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Costas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Costas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Roinatan throws a head kick but Costas moves out of range.
Roinatan blocks a low kick nicely.
Costas attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Costas avoids the head kick by Roinatan.
Costas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Roinatan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Roinatan tries to clinch up

and Costas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Roinatan taking a breather.

Costas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roinatan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Costas throws a lazy right hand but Roinatan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Costas, as that shot connected.
Costas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Costas stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costas misses with a straight right.
Roinatan stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Costas.

Roinatan closes the distance and clinches.

Costas breaks from the clinch.
Roinatan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Roinatan closes the distance looking to clinch

and Costas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Costas misses with a knee strike.

Costas breaks the clinch.
Roinatan shoots in but Costas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Roinatan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Costas is fending him off so far but Roinatan persists. Nope, Costas circles away and we're back to standing.
Roinatan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Costas tries to avoid it but Roinatan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Costas to the ground. Costas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Costas misses with a leg kick
and Roinatan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Costas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Costas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Roinatan.
Costas misses with a hook. Roinatan ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roinatan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Costas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roinatan somewhat.
Roinatan lands a jab to the nose.
Costas leaves Roinatan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Costas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Roinatan can pounce on him.
Roinatan tries for a takedown but Costas circles away easily
and Costas counters with a three punch combo that has Roinatan backing up. Roinatan nods at Costas to acknowledge the strikes.
Costas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Costas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Costas circles away from the clinch attempt
and Costas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Costas is looking to chop away at Roinatan's legs.
Some wild striking there from Roinatan.
Roinatan tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roinatan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Costas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joonatan Roinatan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Costas moves into the clinch successfully.
Costas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Roinatan up against the cage.
Roinatan tries to break free but Costas pushes him back against the cage.
Costas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Roinatan blocks it with crossed arms.
Roinatan tries for a takedown but Costas manages to get underhooks.
Roinatan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Costas walks away with a smile on his face. Roinatan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Roinatan misses with a few strikes there.
Costas throws a combination. Roinatan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Costas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Roinatan's head.
Costas walks forward, straight into a front kick from Roinatan.
Roinatan shoots in but Costas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joonatan Roinatan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Costas misses with a double jab.
Costas stuffs the takedown attempt from Roinatan. Roinatan gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Roinatan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roinatan is looking to clinch but Costas is avoiding it.
Costas throws a lazy head kick
and Roinatan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Emil Costas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Costas throws a head kick that misses.
Costas throws the left hand but Roinatan avoids the punch easily.
Roinatan looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Costas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Roinatan circles away quickly and effectively.
Jab, jab by Roinatan - just one landing.
Costas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Costas misses
and Roinatan counters with a low kick, right behind Costas 's knee.
Costas is breathing heavily.
Roinatan tries to clinch up but Costas circles away and keeps his distance.
Roinatan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Roinatan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Roinatan tries to close the distance and clinch but Costas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emil Costas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Costas throws a sloppy head kick
and Roinatan finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Roinatan clinches but Costas breaks the clinch

and Costas moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Costas trying to land knees to the body.
Costas prevents a body shot from Roinatan.
Costas wants to break free but Roinatan has control.
Costas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Roinatan missing with knees to the body.
Costas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Roinatan can't find room to land a body shot as Costas controls the action.
Roinatan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Costas tries a knee to the head but Roinatan blocks it.
Costas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Roinatan blocks it with crossed arms.
Roinatan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Costas landing knees to the head.
Costas looking to throw knees to the head but Roinatan is blocking nicely.
Roinatan is trying to force a seperation but Costas has the dominant position.
Roinatan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Costas breaks from the clinch.
Costas misses with a kick to the body
and Roinatan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roinatan throws a head kick that half lands.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Costas in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Costas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Roinatan lands with a kick to the temple. Costas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Costas throws a head kick that misses
and Roinatan counters with a nice body shot.
Roinatan scores with a kick to the midsection.
A swing and a miss from Costas.
Roinatan scores with a push kick.
Roinatan scores with a nice strike.
Roinatan throws a head kick that Costas semi-blocks.
Roinatan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Costas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Roinatan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A low kick from Costas is predictable there
and Roinatan counters with a two punch combo.
Roinatan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Roinatan closes the distance but Costas moves to the side

and Costas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Roinatan tries to pull guard but Costas holds him up against the cage and eventually Roinatan drops back down to his feet.

Costas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roinatan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Costas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Costas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Roinatan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Roinatan throws a head kick that half lands.
Roinatan lands a head kick. Costas smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Costas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Costas is stalling here.
Costas keeps control of Roinatan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Costas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Roinatan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roinatan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Costas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roinatan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roinatan tries to score a body lock takedown but Costas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Roinatan wants to get back to striking at distance but Costas won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonatan Roinatan dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Costas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roinatan shoots in for a takedown but Costas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Costas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roinatan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Roinatan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roinatan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Costas defends it nicely.
Roinatan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Costas counters with a nice uppercut.
Roinatan slips under a jab from Costas.
Roinatan throws a head kick that misses.
Costas closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Costas thumps Roinatan with a low kick.
Roinatan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Roinatan wants to clinch.
Costas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Costas throws a leg kick
and Roinatan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Roinatan shoots for a takedown but Costas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joonatan Roinatan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Costas has closed the distance and engaged Roinatan in a clinch.
Costas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Costas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roinatan avoids it.
Roinatan prevents Costas from breaking the clinch.
Costas looking to throw knees to the head but Roinatan is blocking nicely.
Costas keeps control of Roinatan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Roinatan managing to block the knees to the body from Costas.
Roinatan stalling in the clinch but Costas improves position.
Costas leaning his opponent against the cage.
Costas prevents the takedown attempt.
Costas trying to land knees to the body.
Costas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Costas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Roinatan avoids it.
Costas is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Costas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Costas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Roinatan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Costas throws a leg kick
and Roinatan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roinatan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Roinatan keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick from Roinatan lands but Costas takes it in his stride.
Roinatan fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roinatan.
Costas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Roinatan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Roinatan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roinatan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Roinatan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Roinatan trying to control the position from guard on top but Costas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Costas looking for a sweep. Not yet Costas, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roinatan is looking to stand up but Costas won't let him.
Costas wants to stand up but Roinatan is controlling him.

Roinatan gets to his feet - Costas follows without any prompting.
Costas stuffs the takedown attempt from Roinatan. Roinatan gets slowly back to his feet.
Costas wants to clinch.
Costas throws a leg kick
letting Roinatan counter with a right hand.
Roinatan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Costas crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Roinatan - the referee stops the clock and Costas gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Roinatan. Costas manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Roinatan lands with a shot to the body.
Roinatan lands with a kick to the temple. Costas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Roinatan's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Roinatan duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roinatan lands with a nice body kick.
Roinatan lands with a slapping head kick.
Costas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Roinatan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Costas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Roinatan slips a straight right by Costas.
Costas has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Roinatan.
Costas dips to his left and cracks Roinatan with an uppercut!
Roinatan is looking to clinch.
Roinatan looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Costas closes the distance and clinches.
Roinatan tries to pull guard but Costas holds him up against the cage and eventually Roinatan drops back down to his feet.
Costas looking to throw knees to the head but Roinatan is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Costas stalls.

Costas breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joonatan Roinatan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Roinatan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joonatan Roinatan!