PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pietari Koskinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Cephurus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koskinen
vs
Cephurus

190 cm
18
199 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pietari Koskinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Apollo Cephurus!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cephurus slips under a jab from Koskinen.
Koskinen walks into a left hand.
Cephurus ducks under a wild hook from Koskinen.
Cephurus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koskinen sprawls well. Koskinen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cephurus gets slowly back to his feet.
Cephurus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A big left from Koskinen misses.
Koskinen swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Cephurus counters with a shoot takedown. Koskinen fights it but they end up in guard.
Cephurus passes Koskinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koskinen wants to get back to full guard.
Koskinen is working hard here to advance position.
Cephurus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Cephurus controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskinen tries to roll over but Cephurus keeps him under control.
Cephurus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cephurus not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Apollo Cephurus.
Cephurus avoids the body shot from Koskinen.
Cephurus keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cephurus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cephurus looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pietari Koskinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Cephurus.
Cephurus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Koskinen swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cephurus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Koskinen's waist but Koskinen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cephurus off to one side.
Koskinen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cephurus counters with an inside leg kick.
Koskinen throws a looping overhand right but Cephurus ducks down to avoid it.
Cephurus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koskinen throws a lazy uppercut

and Cephurus counters by clinching up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cephurus scores with a shoulder strike.
Koskinen scores a nice knee to the body.
Cephurus looks gassed!
Koskinen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cephurus is defending well for now.
Cephurus tries to stall but Koskinen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Koskinen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cephurus changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Koskinen tries to avoid it but Cephurus manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Koskinen to the ground. Koskinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Koskinen wants to land a leg kick but Cephurus is out of range.
Koskinen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Koskinen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cephurus looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cephurus on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen scores with the left hand. Cephurus knows he should have avoided that one.
Koskinen thows a body kick. Cephurus tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Koskinen connects with a body shot that sends Cephurus's belly button to the back.
Jab, jab by Koskinen - just one landing.
Koskinen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cephurus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Koskinen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Koskinen digs a good body shot into Cephurus's ribs.
Koskinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Koskinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cephurus was well out of range. Poor timing from Koskinen.
Koskinen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cephurus back to the cage. Koskinen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Koskinen jabs Cephurus to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pietari Koskinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cephurus is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koskinen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cephurus's head backwards.
Cephurus moves out of range of the body kick.
Good exchange - Koskinen coming out on top.
Koskinen scores with the left hand. Cephurus knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cephurus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Koskinen. Koskinen obviously looking to wear him down.
Cephurus on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cephurus avoids the body shot from Koskinen.
Koskinen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Cephurus.
Pietari Koskinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koskinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Koskinen scores with a shot to the body.
Nice body kick there by Koskinen.
A solid leg kick lands there for Koskinen.
Cephurus needs to keep his hands up - Koskinen had a free shot at his head there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Koskinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cephurus moves away.
Cephurus avoids a kick to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cephurus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Koskinen as he jumps to the side.
Koskinen throws a body kick that misses.
Koskinen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pietari Koskinen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cephurus takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Koskinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cephurus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Koskinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Cephurus. Cephurus gets slowly back to his feet.
Koskinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cephurus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koskinen circles away.
Cephurus's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cephurus with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Koskinen to score with a decent uppercut.
Cephurus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koskinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cephurus walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Koskinen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Koskinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cephurus attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cephurus is breathing heavily.
Koskinen cracks the inside of Cephurus's front leg.
Koskinen throws a series of punches but Cephurus moves out of range.
Pietari Koskinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Koskinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cephurus takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskinen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cephurus.
Pietari Koskinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Cephurus.
Koskinen lands an overhand right.
Koskinen throws a low kick but Cephurus moves out of range easily.
Nice body punch from Koskinen.
Koskinen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Koskinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Koskinen throws a looping overhand right but Cephurus ducks down to avoid it.
Koskinen scores with a body shot.
Apollo Cephurus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koskinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Koskinen jabs at Cephurus's body.
Koskinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Koskinen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cephurus.
Cephurus closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Koskinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cephurus sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cephurus shoots in but Koskinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cephurus chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Koskinen can pounce on him.
Koskinen throws a leg kick which misses Cephurus's front leg but catches the back leg as Cephurus tries to avoid it.
Cephurus checks a low kick from Koskinen.
Nice sprawl there from Koskinen as Cephurus shoots in.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Koskinen.
Nice body punch from Koskinen.
Koskinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cephurus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Koskinen.
Cephurus moves forwards but Koskinen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Koskinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Cephurus takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Cephurus on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cephurus takes a jab right on the kisser.
Cephurus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Koskinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen lands a jab.
Koskinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Koskinen dips to his left and cracks Cephurus with an uppercut!
A slow jab from Koskinen misses its intended target.
Koskinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koskinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koskinen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cephurus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cephurus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koskinen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cephurus on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cephurus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cephurus closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Koskinen lands with a right hand.
Cephurus walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cephurus takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koskinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Koskinen connects with a body shot.
Koskinen scores with a head kick. Cephurus tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Koskinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cephurus can do to turn this around?
Koskinen scoring well with a low kick there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Koskinen.
Koskinen lands a body shot.
Cephurus on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Koskinen thuds a left hand into Cephurus's body.
Koskinen throws a good cross that connects.
Koskinen lands a head kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Koskinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Koskinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cephurus connects with a solid leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pietari Koskinen 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!

Cephurus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Koskinen throws a body punch but Cephurus moves out of range.
Koskinen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Koskinen swings for the body but Cephurus moves out of range.
A head kick by Koskinen misses

and Cephurus moves into the clinch.
Cephurus managing to block the knees to the body from Koskinen.
Cephurus is trying to drag Koskinen to the mat but Koskinen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cephurus managing to block the knees to the body from Koskinen.
Cephurus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cephurus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koskinen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cephurus.
Pietari Koskinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Cephurus.
Cephurus is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskinen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Apollo Cephurus has been cut.
Koskinen misses with a knee to the head.
Koskinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
A bit of stalling here from Cephurus.
Cephurus tries to circle away but Koskinen has him pinned against the cage.
Koskinen misses with a knee strike.
Koskinen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cephurus is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Koskinen is trying to force a seperation but Cephurus has the dominant position.
Koskinen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cephurus avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cephurus as Koskinen tries to tie him up.
Koskinen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cephurus is defending well for now.
Cephurus lands with a short shot to the head.
Koskinen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cephurus jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koskinen walks away with a smile on his face. Cephurus gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Koskinen connects with a solid leg kick.
Koskinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Koskinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koskinen takes a swing at Cephurus's ribcage but misses.
Cephurus walks into a straight right hand from Koskinen.
Koskinen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Koskinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cephurus misses with a takedown attempt - Koskinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koskinen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Koskinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cephurus takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cephurus walks into a jab.
Koskinen swings for the body but Cephurus moves out of range.
Cephurus has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cephurus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cephurus shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Koskinen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Koskinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cephurus takes one on the button.
Koskinen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cephurus blocks a jab.
Koskinen fakes the leg kick and cracks Cephurus in the body.
Koskinen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Koskinen throws a body kick that misses.

Cephurus drives through and clinches with Koskinen against the cage.
Koskinen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cephurus keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Koskinen's efforts to push away.
A knee to the head by Koskinen.
Koskinen can't find room to land a body shot as Cephurus controls the action.
Koskinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cephurus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cephurus drops down looking for an ankle pick but Koskinen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Koskinen blocks the body kick.
Koskinen lands with a straight right. Cephurus didn't see that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koskinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Koskinen is looking to slow Cephurus down with leg kicks.
Koskinen lands a high kick!
Apollo Cephurus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cephurus blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pietari Koskinen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koskinen, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pietari Koskinen!
A relieved looking Pietari Koskinen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.