PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jouni Rytkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacinto Koutras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rytkonen
vs
Koutras

190 cm
27
220 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
29
210 lbs
6 - 14 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jouni Rytkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacinto Koutras!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rytkonen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koutras moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Koutras dodges the punch combination from Rytkonen.
Rytkonen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Koutras counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rytkonen swings for the body but Koutras moves out of range.
Rytkonen throws a right hand that Koutras ducks under and follows up with a left that Koutras also avoids with ease.
Koutras fails with a takedown attempt.
Koutras shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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 uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rytkonen.
Rytkonen stalks Koutras and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Koutras's face. Koutras staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Jacinto Koutras has been cut.
Jouni Rytkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Rytkonen. Koutras does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rytkonen lands a jab to the head.
Koutras takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rytkonen swings for the body but Koutras moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koutras changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rytkonen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rytkonen is looking to reverse the position.
Koutras tries to move to mount but Rytkonen blocks the move with his legs.

Koutras working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Koutras throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Rytkonen is trying to control Koutras's posture but Koutras avoids it.
Koutras trying to control the action but Rytkonen is working from the bottom.
Rytkonen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Koutras is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koutras working away.
Rytkonen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Koutras is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rytkonen has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Rytkonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Koutras has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rytkonen throws a nice looking combination but Koutras bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rytkonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koutras manages to avoid it.
Koutras shoots in for a double leg but Rytkonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jouni Rytkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Koutras.
Koutras tries to clinch but Rytkonen moves out of range.
Rytkonen lands with a good body shot.
Rytkonen is looking to wear down Koutras with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rytkonen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Koutras momentarily.
Jouni Rytkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koutras avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rytkonen looks to land a combination but Koutras avoids it well.
A right-left combo lands from Rytkonen.
Rytkonen misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown by Koutras or perhaps it was just good defense by Rytkonen which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rytkonen works the jab nicely.

That has opened up Jacinto Koutras's cut even more.
Koutras staying out of range there.
Koutras tries to close the distance and clinch but Rytkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rytkonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rytkonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rytkonen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rytkonen misses with a double jab

and Koutras counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Koutras.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jouni Rytkonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Koutras's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rytkonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rytkonen throws a hook to the side of Koutras's head but Koutras sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Koutras shoots in looking for a takedown but Rytkonen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Koutras's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Koutras avoids the body shot from Rytkonen.
Rytkonen misses with a combination
and Koutras counters with a right hand to the body.
Rytkonen misses with a hook.
Rytkonen misses with a hook to the body

and Koutras counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rytkonen missing with punches from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rytkonen is looking to improve his position.
Koutras is taking a breather. Rytkonen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rytkonen is not content to let Koutras control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rytkonen is trying to maintain the position but Koutras is very close to passing his half guard.
Rytkonen moves into full guard.
Koutras engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Koutras trying to control the position from guard on top but Rytkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jacinto Koutras.
Rytkonen cracks a nice hook into Koutras's ribs.
Koutras uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rytkonen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rytkonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rytkonen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rytkonen throws a series of punches but Koutras avoids them all with ease.
Jouni Rytkonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Rytkonen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rytkonen.
Koutras shoots in looking for a takedown. Rytkonen tries to sprawl out of it but Koutras keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rytkonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rytkonen scores with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rytkonen misses with a body shot.
Rytkonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rytkonen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rytkonen misses with a double jab

and Koutras counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutras is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rytkonen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jouni Rytkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Koutras.
Koutras is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rytkonen to keep the fight standing.

Koutras is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rytkonen can't fight it off and eventually Koutras manages to take the fight to the floor. Rytkonen looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Koutras missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rytkonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rytkonen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Koutras can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koutras advances position into side control!
Koutras has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koutras wants to finish this one by submission but Rytkonen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Koutras.
Rytkonen has given up his back here. Will Koutras look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Koutras has the hooks in. Rytkonen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Koutras is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koutras controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jacinto Koutras will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Koutras's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Koutras gets a double leg takedown into Rytkonen's guard.
Jacinto Koutras has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koutras trying to control the position from guard on top but Rytkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rytkonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koutras missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Koutras slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koutras trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rytkonen wants to get back to his feet but Koutras is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Koutras forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutras throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Koutras not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Koutras is taking a breather. Rytkonen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Koutras is trying to control. Rytkonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rytkonen won't allow Koutras to pass to mount.
Koutras throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koutras looks to land a strike but Rytkonen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rytkonen keeping full guard, as Koutras tries to pass.
Rytkonen looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koutras sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jacinto Koutras has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Koutras keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koutras takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rytkonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koutras moves away.
Koutras misses with a body kick.
Rytkonen swings for the body but Koutras moves out of range.
Rytkonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koutras displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rytkonen throws out the jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koutras fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rytkonen avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rytkonen as Koutras shoots in.
Rytkonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rytkonen misses with a double jab.
Rytkonen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Koutras counters with a three punch combo that has Rytkonen backing up. Rytkonen nods at Koutras to acknowledge the strikes.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rytkonen enables Koutras to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rytkonen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Koutras stays in close to Rytkonen's body and controls the position.
Rytkonen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Koutras avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Koutras gets to his feet. Rytkonen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rytkonen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jouni Rytkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Koutras.
Rytkonen throws a right hand that misses
and Koutras counters with a nice uppercut.
Koutras moves out of range of the strikes.
Rytkonen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Koutras counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Koutras.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right handed body shot lands from Rytkonen.

Koutras breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koutras shoots in for a takedown but Rytkonen shows good takedown defense.
Good shot there by Rytkonen.
Koutras takes a jab right on the kisser.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacinto Koutras comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Koutras 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

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