PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John OGroats (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

OGroats
vs
Kantola

190 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John OGroats!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jussi Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by OGroats.

OGroats decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kantola shoots and misses

and OGroats counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

OGroats is looking for a kimura here.
OGroats working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kantola's thigh. Kantola counters though and makes it back to full guard.
OGroats trying to control but Kantola is working from the bottom.
OGroats wanted to stand there but Kantola had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OGroats postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kantola is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of OGroats, into his guard.
Kantola tries to free his leg and advance position but OGroats is retaining full guard.

OGroats looking for a guillotine here but Kantola defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
OGroats is breathing heavily.
Kantola passes OGroats's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
OGroats pushes Kantola off looking to stand but Kantola dives back in and keeps control.
Kantola tries to pass to full mount but OGroats defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kantola wants to take a breather but OGroats is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kantola closes the distance but OGroats moves to the side

and OGroats counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
OGroats tries to free his leg and advance position but Kantola is retaining full guard.
OGroats looking to sit in guard and control but Kantola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kantola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kantola trying to control the position from guard on top but OGroats is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kantola keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of OGroats's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola trying to control but OGroats is working from the bottom.
Kantola is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kantola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. OGroats swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kantola is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kantola stands and throws OGroats's legs to the side, diving into side control.
OGroats tries to bench press Kantola off him but Kantola keeps the position.

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.

Kantola stands up and beckons OGroats to his feet.
Kantola with a poor takedown

and OGroats counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
OGroats is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kantola reverses the position - he's now on top in OGroats's guard.
OGroats keeping moving, preventing Kantola from controlling successfully.
Kantola stands and throws OGroats's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kantola wants to control but OGroats is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John OGroats dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kantola clinches.

Kantola pulls OGroats into guard.
OGroats has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kantola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

OGroats has gone for a leg lock! Kantola slips out almost immediately though and dives into OGroats's guard.
OGroats keeping moving, preventing Kantola from controlling successfully.

Kantola stands up from OGroats's guard - Kantola perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kantola will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OGroats tries for a takedown but Kantola circles away easily

and Kantola counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kantola has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can OGroats defend it? Kantola steps over the head and cranks it - OGroats is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Kantola!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jussi Kantola!