PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Soz Sztrova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacinto Koutras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sztrova comes to the cage accompanied by In Flames - Delight and Anger. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sztrova
vs
Koutras

190 cm
28
215 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

180 cm
26
210 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Soz Sztrova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacinto Koutras!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sztrova drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Koutras controls Sztrova momentarily but Sztrova frees himself.
Koutras wants to get back to his feet but Sztrova passes into half guard.
Koutras really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sztrova. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sztrova is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Koutras can do anything to dispel that myth.
Koutras avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sztrova.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sztrova passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Koutras!
Sztrova blocks Koutras's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sztrova trying to control but Koutras is having none of it.

Sztrova is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Koutras to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Koutras shrugs it off.
Koutras wants to control but Sztrova is having none of it.
Sztrova fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sztrova trying to control but Koutras is having none of it.

Sztrova is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Koutras has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Koutras!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koutras wants to control from the top but Sztrova keeps moving.
Sztrova wants to get back to his feet but Koutras is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Koutras trying to control the position from guard on top but Sztrova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koutras prevents Sztrova from getting back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Koutras drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sztrova looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sztrova looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sztrova!
Koutras sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sztrova missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sztrova trying to control the action but Koutras is working from the bottom.
Sztrova is just content to waste time from the top position. Koutras takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Koutras 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.

Sztrova has gone for a leg lock! Koutras slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sztrova's guard.
Sztrova controls Koutras momentarily but Koutras frees himself.
Sztrova bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Koutras's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sztrova preventing the sweep.
Sztrova slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sztrova wants to control but Koutras is keeping him busy.
Sztrova tries to score with some ground and pound. Koutras controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Sztrova tries for a kimura but Koutras is defending well.
Sztrova trying to control the action but Koutras is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koutras pushes Sztrova away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sztrova gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soz Sztrova dominated that round.
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.

Sztrova scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ground and pound from Sztrova seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Sztrova is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Koutras is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Sztrova trying to control the action but Koutras is working from the bottom.
Koutras can't do much from the bottom here.
Koutras is looking to reverse the position.
A lull in the action here as Sztrova stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sztrova wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koutras keeps working.
Koutras can't do much from the bottom here.

Sztrova thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Koutras is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Koutras's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Soz Sztrova overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sztrova is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Koutras is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sztrova working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sztrova wants to control but Koutras is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutras tries to bench press Sztrova off him but Sztrova keeps the position.
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.
Sztrova trying to control the position but Koutras is working away.
Koutras is trying to work for a sweep but Sztrova has mounted him!
Sztrova content just to control the position here.
Sztrova avoids the attempt from Koutras to control.

Sztrova is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Koutras is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Koutras flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Sztrova anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Koutras and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Sztrova slips an arm under Koutras chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Sztrova has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Sztrova is squeezing on Koutras like an anaconda would it's prey. Koutras fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Soz Sztrova!
After winning the bout, Soz Sztrova thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.