PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Barris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarni Kutsoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kutsoo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Enter Sandman. The key to victory for John Barris has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Barris
vs
Kutsoo

171 cm
23
144 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

169 cm
25
143 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Barris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarni Kutsoo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kutsoo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Barris tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kutsoo throws an elbow but Barris slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kutsoo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barris dodges the ground and pound from Kutsoo.
Barris is not content to let Kutsoo control the position.

Kutsoo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Barris parries the strikes from Kutsoo easily there. Kutsoo is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Barris to escape.
Kutsoo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barris keeps working.

Kutsoo is trying to get an arm triangle but Barris is defending well.
Kutsoo working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutsoo tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Kutsoo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barris knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kutsoo working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kutsoo is chipping away with strikes.
Barris keeps Kutsoo under control for a moment.

Kutsoo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kutsoo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The strikes coming from Kutsoo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kutsoo wants to stand but Barris is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kutsoo lands an elbow.
Kutsoo wants to control but Barris is keeping him busy.

Kutsoo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Barris has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kutsoo but great work by Barris.
Kutsoo wants to get back to his feet.
Kutsoo manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
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!
Barris wants to improve his position but Kutsoo is controlling well.
Kutsoo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barris avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kutsoo.
Kutsoo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barris defending well though.
Kutsoo wants to control but Barris is keeping him busy.
Kutsoo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barris wants to control but Kutsoo is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barris manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kutsoo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kutsoo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barris trying to control the position.
Kutsoo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kutsoo passes into half guard.
Kutsoo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kutsoo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barris with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kutsoo seems to be working for a kimura but Barris defends the submission attempt.

Kutsoo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barris is just riding it out for now. Kutsoo eventually gives up the hold.
Kutsoo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barris is trying to maintain the position but Kutsoo is very close to passing his half guard.
Kutsoo is looking to advance position but Barris won't allow it.

Barris looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kutsoo lands strikes from half guard.

Kutsoo wants to work for an arm triangle but Barris is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Barris is looking to control Kutsoo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barris avoid being mounted?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kutsoo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kutsoo passes to side control.
Barris tries to buck Kutsoo off but Kutsoo is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarni Kutsoo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barris throws a low kick, looking for Kutsoo's leg but Kutsoo calmly moves out of range.
Kutsoo shoots in looking for a takedown. Barris tries to sprawl out of it but Kutsoo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barris manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kutsoo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kutsoo is trying to control. Barris wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kutsoo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barris keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kutsoo wants to take a breather but Barris is having none of it.
Jarni Kutsoo has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kutsoo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kutsoo wants to pass to mount but Barris is defending the position.

Kutsoo is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutsoo is trying to control. Barris wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kutsoo lands strikes from half guard.

Kutsoo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barris is just riding it out for now. Kutsoo eventually gives up the hold.
Barris is looking to improve his position.

Kutsoo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Barris defends it well.
Kutsoo is thwarting Barris's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barris avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kutsoo.
Barris is looking to control Kutsoo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barris avoid being mounted?
Barris is looking to improve his position.

Barris looking for submissions off his back.
Kutsoo tries to pass to full mount but Barris defends it.
Barris trying to control from the bottom.

Kutsoo seems to be working for a kimura but Barris defends the submission attempt.
Kutsoo prevents Barris from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kutsoo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kutsoo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Barris knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kutsoo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barris is trying to control but can't.
Barris tries to get to full guard but Kutsoo has control of the leg.

Kutsoo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Barris sees it coming and defends easily.
Barris wants to get back to full guard.
Barris gets back to full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kutsoo cracks Barris with a solid left hand.
Kutsoo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kutsoo tries to free his leg and advance position but Barris is retaining full guard.
Kutsoo passes Barris's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Barris tries to roll over but Kutsoo keeps him under control.
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!
Kutsoo scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Barris looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kutsoo trying to control from half guard but Barris is working away.

Barris is defending against the submission attempts here by Kutsoo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarni Kutsoo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kutsoo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kutsoo closes the distance and clinches up with Barris, looking for a takedown. Kutsoo pushes Barris against the cage but Barris circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kutsoo shoots and misses

and Barris counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barris.
John Barris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jarni Kutsoo.
Barris wants to control from the top but Kutsoo keeps moving.
Kutsoo looking for a sweep. Not yet Kutsoo, not yet.
Barris trying to control the position from guard on top but Kutsoo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kutsoo looking for a guillotine here but Barris defends easily.
Barris stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kutsoo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutsoo looking to control.
Barris preventing the sweep.
Barris wants to pass the guard but Kutsoo is keeping the position.

Kutsoo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kutsoo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kutsoo controls Barris momentarily but Barris frees himself.
Barris wants to control from the top but Kutsoo keeps moving.

Kutsoo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barris wants to control from the top but Kutsoo keeps moving.
Kutsoo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Kutsoo working for a triangle but Barris defends it easily.
Barris slips nicely into half guard.

Barris is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kutsoo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kutsoo wants to control but Barris is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kutsoo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barris pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barris is trying to control. Kutsoo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
John Barris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kutsoo is trying to get back to full guard.

Barris is working for a kimura but Kutsoo is defending it quite comfortably.
Kutsoo tries to roll over but Barris keeps him under control.
Barris thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kutsoo's head.
Barris wants to pass the guard but Kutsoo is defending well.
Kutsoo is trying to maintain the position but Barris is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barris prevents Kutsoo from improving his position.
Jarni Kutsoo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Kutsoo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kutsoo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Barris is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kutsoo is just riding it out for now. Barris eventually gives up the hold.
Kutsoo trying to control but Barris postures up.

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 John Barris.
Well Kutsoo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarni Kutsoo!
Post fight, an emotional Jarni Kutsoo said 'WHO? WHO? WHO`S THE BEST?! I CAN`T HEAR YOU!!!'.