PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between King GT (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jussi Kantola is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

GT
vs
Kantola

185 cm
25
186 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
23
190 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Warrior MMA

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, King GT!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jussi Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

GT shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than GT was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kantola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kantola tries to hold on but GT pushes him away.
GT knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kantola on the ground.
Kantola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

GT swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kantola is now in GT's guard. A big mistake from GT there, giving up the dominant position!
Kantola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. GT swivels though and keeps the full guard.

GT scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kantola wants to clinch.
Kantola throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola shoots and misses
and GT counters with a head kick. That will keep Kantola thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

GT looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kantola is not content to let GT control the position.
Kantola wants to get back to full guard.
Kantola is trying to maintain the position but GT is very close to passing his half guard.
Kantola pushes GT off looking to stand but GT dives back in and keeps control.
GT lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
GT missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
GT is looking to take a break and control but Kantola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
GT looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kantola misses with a takedown attempt

and GT counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by GT.
GT trying to control but Kantola is working from the bottom.
GT scoring with some ground and pound.
GT chips away with some ground and pound.
GT throwing strikes but missing.
GT forces his way into half guard.
GT is trying to control. Kantola wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
GT looks to land a strike but Kantola avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
GT would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kantola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kantola looking to control.
GT stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kantola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
GT wants to get up but he can't break Kantola's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
GT is breathing heavily.
GT is looking to work some ground and pound but Kantola has wrist control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

GT tries to keep at a distance but Kantola has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kantola is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four 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.
Kantola working GT over with knees to the body.

Kantola pulls GT into guard.
GT wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
GT postures up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
GT won't allow Kantola to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

GT shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kantola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
GT sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kantola defending well though.
Kantola trying to hold on to GT's head to control him but GT postures up.
GT looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

GT stands up out of the half guard.
Kantola tries for a takedown but GT circles away easily

and GT counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kantola is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
GT slips nicely into half guard.
Kantola is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
GT wants to free his trapped foot but Kantola is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kantola has hold of GT's hands but GT slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
GT tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kantola controls his leg.
GT is looking to take a break and control but Kantola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
GT thows a huge punch but Kantola dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

GT wants to work for an arm triangle but Kantola is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
GT thows a huge punch but Kantola dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from GT.
Kantola tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and GT counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kantola's guard now.
GT with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kantola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
GT pushes Kantola off looking to stand but Kantola dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola passes the guard and advances to mount!

Kantola looking for a guillotine from mount but GT is having none of it.
Kantola with a couple of short strikes.
GT tries to buck Kantola off but Kantola takes his back!
GT is trying to stand back up.
GT trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola is working the ground and pound. Can GT escape?

Kantola is looking for the choke from the back position but GT is controlling his hands well.

GT is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

GT fending off the submission attempt from Kantola.
GT looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kantola trying to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that King GT will probably get the nod.
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!

GT blocks a head kick by Kantola.
Kantola looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kantola doesn't succeed with the takedown

and GT counters with a single leg into guard. Kantola didn't expect that.
Kantola keeping moving, preventing GT from controlling successfully.
GT has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
GT throws a strike but Kantola rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
GT wants to stand and escape but Kantola is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kantola tries to stand but GT is controlling from the bottom.
GT wants to stand and escape but Kantola is having none of it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kantola tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and GT decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kantola's guard.
GT throwing strikes from guard but Kantola blocks nicely.
King GT overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kantola trying to control the position.
Kantola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
GT makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
GT trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kantola looking to control.
GT working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kantola's head.

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

GT fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kantola sprawls well initially but GT persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kantola won't allow GT to pass to mount.
Kantola trying to hold on to GT's head to control him but GT postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with GT in particular looking to stall.
Kantola gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
GT trying to control but Kantola is working from the bottom.
GT won't allow Kantola to sweep him here.
Kantola can't keep his opponent in guard - GT advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kantola is trying to stand up here but GT is controlling him well.
GT misses with a head shot. Kantola uses the momentum to regain guard.
GT wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kantola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kantola looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kantola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kantola working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because GT has passed into half guard!
Kantola tries to roll over but GT keeps him under control.
GT winds up and cracks Kantola with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
King GT showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for GT, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 for King GT!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for King GT!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for King GT!

King GT wins by unanimous decision!