PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Jarvela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these fighters had to take extra time to make weight as they missed the initial 185lb limit. John Smith came in at 187.1 and Juhani Jarvela came in at 186.2 but after the extra two hours, both guys managed to get within the one pound allowance. No doubt it will have affected them physically though, so let's see if that has an impact on the fight. Juhani Jarvela is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smith
vs
Jarvela

200 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 Helsinki, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Jarvela!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jarvela swings away with a body shot that misses

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith stops Jarvela from standing up.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith is pushing down on Jarvela's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jarvela is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jarvela is in trouble now - Smith has advanced to mount!
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jarvela in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Jarvela is trying to stand up.
Smith lands a nice shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Smith with the ground and pound from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to control but Jarvela wriggling away.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Jarvela but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Jarvela really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jarvela tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Jarvela looks a forlorn figure.
Smith looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jarvela really wants to buck Smith off and get back to his feet.
Jarvela looks gassed!
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smith controlling the position easily from mount.

Smith working for a submission but Jarvela is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith punishing his opponent with strikes.
Smith fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Jarvela is having none of it.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Jarvela is bucking up trying to escape but Smith cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Smith landing shots from mount.
Jarvela wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling from the full mount.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Jarvela looks a forlorn figure.
Smith with good strikes from the mount here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith cracks Jarvela with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Jarvela is having none of it.
Jarvela tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Smith 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.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Jarvela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jarvela is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jarvela knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Jarvela to see if he's OK.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jarvela keeps working.
Jarvela managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Smith.
Smith moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Jarvela is wriggling around trying to escape.
Jarvela is breathing heavily.
Smith controlling his opponent.

Smith is working for a guillotine from mount but Jarvela frees his head quite easily.
Jarvela is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Smith controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jarvela tries to lock up and control but Smith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith controlling the pace for now.

Smith is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Jarvela to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Jarvela shrugs it off.
Jarvela is in a horrible position here. Smith smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Jarvela is squirming around, avoiding Smith's attempts to control the action.
Jarvela is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith breaks from Jarvela's wrist control and lands an elbow.
John Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Smith is working for a guillotine from mount but Jarvela frees his head quite easily.
Smith controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jarvela throws a combination that misses

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Jarvela is letting Smith control him for a moment.
Smith works to advance to full mount. Jarvela defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Smith breaks from Jarvela's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jarvela is in all sorts of trouble here.

Smith looking to secure an arm triangle but Jarvela defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith scoring with strikes but Jarvela is staying in there.
Smith putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith controlling his opponent.
Jarvela tries to reverse the position but Smith maintains control.
Smith working Jarvela over with strikes here.
Smith raining down shots from the mount!

Smith looking for a guillotine from mount but Jarvela is having none of it.
Smith controlling from mount.
Juhani Jarvela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith forces the positional change into back control.

Smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jarvela takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Jarvela looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Smith is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Jarvela is trapped and Smith is scoring with shots to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jarvela showing good submission defense here.
Jarvela tries to escape but Smith has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Jarvela fending off the submission attempt from Smith.
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!
Smith keeps control of the position as Jarvela tries to break free.
Jarvela is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Jarvela with him. Jarvela is trying to defend but Smith has an arm under the chin now! Jarvela grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). John Smith!