PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacinto Koutras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen McMurtry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koutras
vs
McMurtry

180 cm
21
210 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
27
204 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 160Q/159Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacinto Koutras!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen McMurtry!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McMurtry misses with a combination

and Koutras counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McMurtry!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McMurtry's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
McMurtry regains half guard.
Koutras throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McMurtry tries to kick Koutras off but Koutras keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koutras is stalling here. McMurtry is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Koutras seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and McMurtry has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Koutras tries to buck McMurtry off but McMurtry is having none of it.
Koutras on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Koutras tries to get out of the position.
Koutras is not content to let McMurtry control the position.
Koutras tries to buck McMurtry off but McMurtry is having none of it.
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!
Koutras is not content to let McMurtry control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMurtry advances to full mount.
McMurtry avoids the attempt from Koutras to control.
Koutras is squirming around, avoiding McMurtry's attempts to control the action.
Koutras is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Koutras is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMurtry looking to control but Koutras is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McMurtry might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Koutras kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Koutras is desperately trying to improve his position but McMurtry has a good base and remains in mount.
Koutras wants to hold on but McMurtry pushes him away.
Koutras is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McMurtry trying to control but Koutras is having none of it.
Koutras is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMurtry tries to control but Koutras wriggling away.
Koutras is wriggling around trying to escape.
McMurtry trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Koutras can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McMurtry looking to control but Koutras is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Koutras is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMurtry tries to control but Koutras wriggling away.
Koutras is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
McMurtry wants to control the pace but Koutras is squirming around nicely.
Koutras keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koutras tries to hold on but McMurtry pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen McMurtry will probably get the nod.
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.

McMurtry throws a right hand that Koutras ducks under and follows up with a left that Koutras also avoids with ease.
Koutras shoots in for a takedown but McMurtry shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Koutras fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McMurtry lands with a straight right. Koutras didn't see that one coming.

It looks like Jacinto Koutras has been cut.
A combination from McMurtry does no damage.
McMurtry swinging wildly here.
No joy there for McMurtry, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McMurtry lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McMurtry.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koutras wants to clinch up but McMurtry keeps it at a distance.
Jacinto Koutras is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutras looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

McMurtry gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Koutras to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Koutras drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McMurtry manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Koutras has McMurtry in his guard.
Koutras looking for a sweep. Not yet Koutras, not yet.
McMurtry prevents Koutras from getting back to his feet.
Koutras keeping moving, preventing McMurtry from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMurtry is looking to stand up but Koutras won't let him.
Koutras wants to sweep but no luck.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Stephen McMurtry hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Koutras fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacinto Koutras. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McMurtry throws a series of punches but Koutras avoids them all with ease.
McMurtry swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McMurtry's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McMurtry duly obliges.
McMurtry shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Koutras eats them both and turns towards McMurtry to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Jacinto Koutras's cut is getting worse.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by McMurtry!
Koutras could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
McMurtry misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McMurtry pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McMurtry throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koutras's head.

Jacinto Koutras's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Koutras swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McMurtry throws a left and a right that both miss
and Koutras counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Koutras gets a clinch.

McMurtry is fighting off a takedown attempt but Koutras is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McMurtry to the mat. McMurtry regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
McMurtry trying to keep a closed guard but Koutras is proving a slippery customer.

Koutras postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! McMurtry is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Koutras, into his guard.
McMurtry wants to control from the top but Koutras keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koutras not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McMurtry pushes down on Koutras's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Koutras wants to improve his position but McMurtry is controlling well.
McMurtry seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
McMurtry is looking to take a break and control but Koutras is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Koutras is trying to get back to full guard.
McMurtry is trying to control. Koutras wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen McMurtry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Koutras's cut.
That's time! Koutras's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McMurtry lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koutras circles away quickly and effectively.
A jab from McMurtry does it's job there.
McMurtry tries a head kick but it misses.
McMurtry tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koutras lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Koutras looking to score a takedown here. McMurtry is defending well but Koutras drives through and ends up in McMurtry's guard.
Jacinto Koutras overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McMurtry looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koutras is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Koutras trying to control the position from guard on top but McMurtry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koutras looking to pass the guard.
Koutras throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutras trying to control the position from guard on top but McMurtry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jacinto Koutras wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A right-left combo lands from McMurtry.
A combination from McMurtry does no damage.
A punch combination from McMurtry misses.
McMurtry misses with a head kick.

Koutras moves into the clinch successfully.

Koutras has picked McMurtry up - he's going for a ride! Koutras dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koutras is trying to control the action in half guard but McMurtry is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Koutras working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on McMurtry's thigh. McMurtry counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Koutras slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koutras trying to control the action but McMurtry is working from the bottom.
McMurtry manages to work his way to half guard, despite Koutras's best efforts.
Koutras throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koutras throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing McMurtry to regain full guard.
Koutras throwing strikes but missing.
McMurtry wants to sweep but no luck.
Koutras looking to pass the guard.
McMurtry trying to keep a closed guard but Koutras is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutras looking to sit in guard and control but McMurtry gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Koutras not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McMurtry stops Koutras from standing up.
McMurtry won't allow Koutras to sweep him here.
Jacinto Koutras has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McMurtry wants to control from the top but Koutras keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Stephen McMurtry.
McMurtry scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMurtry throws a head kick that misses.
McMurtry lands with a right hand.

Jeez, Jacinto Koutras's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
A head kick misses from McMurtry.
Koutras tries to close the distance and clinch but McMurtry swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McMurtry swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Koutras counters with a nice double leg into side control. McMurtry won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McMurtry is trying to improve his position.
Koutras controls the position.
Koutras misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McMurtry is being controlled here.
You can see the frustration on McMurtry's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Stephen McMurtry is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Koutras throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McMurtry works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jacinto Koutras.
I think McMurtry has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen McMurtry!