PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Poutsi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenta Kobashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kobashi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by DJ Krush - Kemuri. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Poutsi
vs
Kobashi

183 cm
26
200 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

186 cm
26
198 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tim Poutsi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenta Kobashi!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poutsi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kobashi circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kobashi, right into the meat.
Kobashi throws a hook but Poutsi avoids it easily.
Poutsi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Poutsi tries to clinch up but Kobashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Kobashi throws a front kick aimed at Poutsi's knee but Poutsi avoids it well.
Poutsi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Poutsi forces Kobashi back against the cage and clinches.
Kobashi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kobashi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Poutsi tries to work over Kobashi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Poutsi throws a head punch that misses.
Poutsi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Poutsi is looking for a takedown.

Poutsi has Kobashi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Poutsi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kobashi tumbling to the mat - Poutsi dives into Kobashi's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kobashi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kobashi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobashi looking for a sweep. Not yet Kobashi, not yet.
Kobashi keeping moving, preventing Poutsi from controlling successfully.
Poutsi wants to pass the guard but Kobashi is keeping the position.
Kobashi is pulling down on Poutsi's head. It's preventing any offense from Poutsi, at least for the moment.
Kobashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kobashi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Poutsi trying to control but Kobashi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Poutsi punishes Kobashi's body with a nice straight punch.
We've been hearing reports that Poutsi has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Poutsi misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Poutsi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Poutsi moves out of range of the body kick.
Poutsi checks a leg kick.
Poutsi throws a body punch but Kobashi moves out of range.
Poutsi avoids the head kick by Kobashi.
Kobashi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Poutsi.
Kobashi wants to slow Poutsi down by chopping away at his legs.
Kobashi connects with a body shot that sends Poutsi's belly button to the back.
Poutsi misses with a looping left.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters circling a little - Kobashi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Kobashi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kobashi.
Kobashi throws a front kick that sends Poutsi stumbling back into the cage.
Kobashi lands with an uppercut that bounces Poutsi off the cage and back into range.
Kobashi ducks under a wild hook from Poutsi.
Poutsi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kobashi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Poutsi's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kobashi.
Poutsi misses with an uppercut. Kobashi saw that one coming.
Poutsi misses with a straight right.
Poutsi avoids a kick to the body.
Poutsi moves in looking to clinch but Kobashi pushes him off.
Poutsi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kobashi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kobashi moves out of range as Poutsi strikes.
Poutsi lands a lovely overhand right.
A head kick misses from Kobashi.
Poutsi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tim Poutsi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kobashi is looking to chop away at Poutsi's legs.
Poutsi swings for the body but Kobashi moves out of range.
Poutsi throws a jab when Kobashi was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poutsi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kobashi.
Kobashi tries a low kick but Poutsi avoids it.
Kobashi slips under a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kobashi ducks under a wild hook from Poutsi.
Poutsi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kobashi.
Poutsi doesn't manage to clinch there - Kobashi circles away.
Poutsi misses with a leg kick.
Poutsi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kobashi.
Poutsi looks to land a left hand but Kobashi moved out of range nicely.
Poutsi tries to close the distance and clinch but Kobashi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kobashi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Poutsi looks to land a left hand but Kobashi moved out of range nicely.
Kobashi lands with a hook. Poutsi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A head kick misses from Kobashi.
Poutsi lands a nice hook to Kobashi's body. Kobashi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tim Poutsi will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Poutsi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kobashi, right into the meat.
Poutsi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Poutsi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kobashi is fending him off so far but Poutsi persists. Nope, Kobashi circles away and we're back to standing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kobashi, right into the meat.
Kobashi tries to land a front kick but Poutsi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Decent striking displayed by Kobashi there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Poutsi.
Kobashi connects with a jab.
Kobashi throws a leg kick which misses Poutsi's front leg but catches the back leg as Poutsi tries to avoid it.
Kobashi scores with a kick to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Poutsi throws a wild body kick that Kobashi sees coming a mile off.
Poutsi lands a head shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kobashi enables Poutsi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kobashi manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Poutsi stopping the sweep attempt from Kobashi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobashi trying to control the position.
Kobashi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Poutsi stands and throws Kobashi's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Poutsi working the strikes but Kobashi uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Poutsi throwing shots but Kobashi is blocking nicely.
Kobashi manages to get to full guard.
Poutsi scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poutsi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kobashi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kobashi looking for a sweep. Not yet Kobashi, not yet.
Poutsi trying to control but Kobashi is working from the bottom.
Poutsi pushing down on Kobashi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Poutsi blocks the strikes from Kobashi.
Poutsi is nestled in close to Kobashi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poutsi trying to control the action but Kobashi is working from the bottom.
Poutsi is just content to waste time from the top position. Kobashi takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Poutsi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kobashi keeping moving, preventing Poutsi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Poutsi lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Poutsi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tim Poutsi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kobashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Poutsi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Poutsi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kobashi controls Poutsi momentarily but Poutsi frees himself.
Kobashi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kobashi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poutsi tries to hold on but Kobashi pushes him away.
Poutsi is desperately trying to improve his position but Kobashi has a good base and remains in mount.
Poutsi tries to hold on but Kobashi pushes him away.
Poutsi working to try and regain half guard.
Kobashi landing strikes from the mount and Poutsi is in trouble!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Poutsi wants to control but Kobashi is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kobashi with good strikes from the mount here!
Kobashi breaks from Poutsi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenta Kobashi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Poutsi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kobashi.
Poutsi throws a big shot that misses.
Kobashi throws a leg kick but Poutsi moved away.
Kobashi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kobashi avoids a kick to the body.
Kobashi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kobashi throws a nice outside leg kick.
A big right from Poutsi misses.
Kobashi misses with a leg kick.
Poutsi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Poutsi misses with a series of wild punches.
Poutsi takes a swing at Kobashi's ribcage but misses.
Good leg kick by Kobashi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poutsi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Poutsi looks to land a left hand but Kobashi moved out of range nicely.
Poutsi blocks a head kick by Kobashi.
Poutsi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kobashi as he jumps to the side.
Poutsi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Poutsi. Kobashi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Poutsi throws a shot from downtown. Kobashi moves away and avoids it.
Poutsi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jab by Kobashi.
Poutsi misses with a hook
and Kobashi counters with a thumping low kick.
Poutsi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Poutsi throws a nice looking combination but Kobashi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kobashi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kenta Kobashi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kobashi looks to throw the jab but Poutsi is out of range.
Poutsi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobashi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donk. Kobashi catches Poutsi right on the button with a cross.
Poutsi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kobashi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Poutsi.
Kobashi lands a jab to Poutsi's midsection.
Poutsi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kobashi on the side of the head.
Poutsi works the jab nicely.
Poutsi avoids the head kick by Kobashi.
Kenta Kobashi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice jab there from Poutsi.
Kobashi lands with a kick to the temple. Poutsi shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kobashi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Poutsi finds it's way round the side to connect with Kobashi's head.
Poutsi lands with an uppercut that bounces Kobashi off the cage and back into range.
Poutsi tries to clinch up.
Poutsi blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poutsi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kobashi throws a body kick that misses.
Poutsi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kobashi throws the left hand but Poutsi avoids the punch easily.
Poutsi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kobashi.
A solid body kick from Kobashi.
Kobashi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Poutsi moves out of range of the strikes.
Kobashi throws a leg kick but Poutsi moved away.
Poutsi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Poutsi connects with a crisp jab.
Kobashi misses with a head kick.
Kobashi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice jab there from Kobashi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poutsi throws a shot from downtown. Kobashi moves away and avoids it.
Poutsi darts in looking for a takedown but Kobashi gets double underhooks and turns Poutsi into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kobashi breaks from the clinch.
Poutsi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Poutsi misses with a hook. Kobashi ducked under it nicely.
Poutsi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kobashi manages to avoid it.
Poutsi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Poutsi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kobashi lands with a light punch inside.
Poutsi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kobashi's efforts to push away.
Kobashi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kobashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Poutsi prevents a body shot from Kobashi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Poutsi.
Poutsi looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenta Kobashi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kobashi 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenta Kobashi!
Kenta Kobashi bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.