PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russell Joyner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dr Alban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alban has chosen Soviet Connection as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Joyner
vs
Alban

179 cm
28
205 lbs
7 - 7 - 1

170 cm
28
205 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Russell Joyner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dr Alban!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alban takes one to the chin there.
Joyner misses with a lunging right hand
and Alban counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice sprawl there from Joyner as Alban shoots in.
Joyner looks to land a combination. Alban sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Dr Alban has been cut.
Joyner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alban.
Joyner throws a hook but Alban blocks it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Alban is defended easily by Joyner.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joyner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alban changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Joyner tries to avoid it but Alban manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Joyner to the ground. Joyner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Russell Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dr Alban.
Alban tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joyner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alban somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joyner gets the takedown into side control.

Joyner is trying to get an arm triangle but Alban is defending well.
Joyner looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Alban is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Joyner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Joyner throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joyner is looking to take a break and control but Alban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joyner taking a break here but Alban is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joyner lands strikes from half guard.
Joyner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alban does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Joyner misses with a head shot. Alban uses the momentum to regain guard.
Joyner wants to pass the guard but Alban is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alban manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Joyner sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Alban throwing shots but Joyner is blocking nicely.
Joyner is trying to stand up here but Alban is controlling him well.
Alban missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joyner wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alban missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joyner is in trouble now - Alban has advanced to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Joyner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dr Alban's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alban lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Alban shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Joyner counters with a series of strikes. Alban will be more careful next time no doubt.
Russell Joyner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alban fails to land the takedown.
Alban fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Russell Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dr Alban.
Joyner misses with a body shot

and Alban counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Alban thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Joyner's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Alban sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joyner defending well though.
Joyner looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyner 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.
Alban throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Joyner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Alban not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joyner wants to get back to his feet.
Alban throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Alban throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Joyner to regain full guard.
Joyner has control of Alban's left arm, preventing Alban from doing any damage.
Russell Joyner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alban with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alban pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Joyner is keeping the position for now.
Joyner wants to sweep here but Alban controlling him for the moment.
Joyner wants to stand and escape but Alban is having none of it.
Alban working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alban keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joyner's head.
Joyner wants to sweep but no luck.
Alban stops Joyner from standing up.
Alban postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Alban postures up in Joyner's guard and throws a big left but Joyner blocks 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!
Joyner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alban stands and throws Joyner's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Joyner wants to get back to his feet but Alban drags him back down.
Joyner can't do much from the bottom here.
Alban has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joyner on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Joyner tries to escape but Alban is in control.
Alban is chipping away with strikes.
Alban looks up at the clock and then as Joyner takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Alban smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Joyner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alban throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joyner avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Alban.
Alban cracks Joyner with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Alban prevents Joyner from escaping the position.
Joyner struggling a bit here.
Alban is putting a hurting on Joyner here, landing some big shots from side control.
Alban connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Joyner some visible discomfort.
Alban lands some shots froms side control.
Joyner pushes Alban away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Alban gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alban looking to control but instead Joyner has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Alban not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dr Alban showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dr Alban's cut.
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!

Alban tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Joyner swivels and escapes.
Joyner misses with a hook.
Alban fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Alban.
Joyner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joyner swinging wildly here.
Joyner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alban.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joyner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alban uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Joyner.
Alban misses with a takedown
and Joyner counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Russell Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dr Alban.
Joyner misses with a combination
enabling Alban to counter with a crisp jab.
Joyner misses with a right hand
and Alban counters with a straight right hand.
A punch combination from Joyner misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alban slips a jab from Joyner.

Joyner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Joyner throws a strike but Alban rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Alban working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alban trying to control but Joyner is working from the bottom.
Joyner wants to stand and escape but Alban is having none of it.
Alban postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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!
Alban loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joyner uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Joyner misses with a hook

and Alban counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alban.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Alban lands a couple of elbows.
Alban with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alban throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alban makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Joyner manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Russell Joyner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the body from Joyner misses
and Alban counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joyner walks into a straight right hand from Alban.
Alban moves out of range as Joyner strikes.
Joyner throws an off balance right hand
and Alban counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joyner misses with a lunging right hand
and Alban cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joyner misses with an uppercut
letting Alban counter with a right hand.
Joyner throws a combination that misses
and Alban cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alban tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joyner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alban somewhat.
Alban shoots in but Joyner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alban misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dr Alban comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alban 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dr Alban!
Dr Alban decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.