PBP Commentary

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

Jokinen
vs
Koutras

206 cm
22
217 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
210 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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, Reima Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacinto Koutras!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen misses with a wild combination.
Jokinen throws a head kick but Koutras moves out of range.
Jokinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jokinen throws a head kick that misses.

Koutras shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jokinen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Koutras trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Jokinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Koutras from controlling successfully.
Koutras not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Koutras passes Jokinen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutras thows a huge punch but Jokinen dodges it nicely.
Koutras throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jokinen tries to kick Koutras off in order to stand up. Koutras Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Koutras tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Koutras has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Koutras has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Jokinen!
Koutras has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Koutras wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Koutras controlling from mount.

Koutras has hold of Jokinen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Jokinen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koutras is standing up, even though he is in mount.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koutras.
Jokinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Koutras has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Koutras closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jokinen circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koutras checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jokinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A good leg kick by Jokinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Jokinen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Koutras.

Jokinen tries to keep at a distance but Koutras has taken the fight into the clinch.
Koutras fails to pull guard.
Reima Jokinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Koutras.
Jokinen is looking to break free of the clinch but Koutras has double underhooks.
Koutras has Jokinen pressed against the cage, preventing Jokinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Koutras has Jokinen pressed against the cage, preventing Jokinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Koutras gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Jokinen keeping full guard, as Koutras tries to pass.

Koutras has gone for a leg lock! Jokinen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Koutras's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koutras is on top in guard.
Jokinen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jokinen is looking to stand up but Koutras isn't so interested in that idea.
Jokinen can't keep his opponent in guard - Koutras advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Koutras is just content to waste time from the top position. Jokinen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koutras passes Jokinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacinto Koutras dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Koutras misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jokinen.

Koutras manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Jokinen on his heels. He'll look to pass Jokinen's guard now, I'm sure.
Koutras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen is keeping the position for now.
Koutras wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Jokinen 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.
Koutras passes Jokinen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Koutras controlling the action here.
Jacinto Koutras has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jokinen is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutras is pressing down on Jokinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jokinen is holding on for now.
Koutras with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Koutras is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jokinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Koutras.
Koutras is trying to control. Jokinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koutras decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Jokinen misses with a head kick.
Koutras should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Koutras throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jokinen was covering up waiting for the punch and Koutras finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Koutras seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Koutras wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Koutras stays in close to Jokinen's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen has his foot on Koutras's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koutras works his way back into a safe position though.
Koutras looking to pass the guard.
Jokinen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jokinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koutras wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jacinto Koutras hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jokinen throws a right and a left that Koutras avoids nicely.

Jokinen gets caught napping as Koutras dives in and scores a takedown. Jokinen manages to retain guard.
Jokinen trying to keep a closed guard but Koutras is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koutras stops Jokinen from standing up.
Koutras stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jokinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koutras throws an elbow that misses. Jokinen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koutras's guard. Nice move by Jokinen!
Koutras preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Koutras wants to sweep but no luck.
Koutras is trying to keep Jokinen in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Koutras escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jokinen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Koutras looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jokinen passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacinto Koutras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Koutras fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jokinen throws a head kick that misses.
Jokinen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Koutras takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen throws a head kick that misses.
Koutras wants to clinch up but Jokinen keeps it at a distance.
Koutras takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Koutras blocks a head kick by Jokinen.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Koutras checks it well.
Reima Jokinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koutras avoids the head kick by Jokinen.
Jokinen throws a sloppy head kick and Koutras moves out of range easily.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Jokinen.

Koutras shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Koutras was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Koutras controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen tries to lock up and control but Koutras gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Koutras thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Koutras controlling from the full mount.
Koutras punching from mount but Jokinen doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Koutras looking to ground and pound but Jokinen is blocking nicely.
Jokinen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Koutras looking to control but Jokinen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutras throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Jokinen is bucking up trying to escape but Koutras cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Koutras is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Jokinen is surviving well by controlling Koutras's body position as best he can.
Jokinen tries to lock up and control but Koutras gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jacinto Koutras is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Koutras goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Jokinen turns into him and now he's in Koutras's guard.
Koutras manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jokinen manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koutras trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jokinen looking for a sweep. Not yet Jokinen, not yet.
Koutras slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Reima Jokinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Jokinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jokinen looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Koutras's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacinto Koutras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koutras winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacinto Koutras!