PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cam Marks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacinto Koutras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacinto Koutras is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Marks
vs
Koutras

188 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
32
210 lbs
10 - 20 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cam Marks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jacinto Koutras!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Koutras blocks the low kick.
Cam Marks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Koutras. Those never looked like landing.
Marks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Marks lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Koutras has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Koutras and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Marks tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Koutras counters by moving into the clinch.
Koutras tries to pull guard but Marks holds him up against the cage and eventually Koutras drops back down to his feet.
Marks is pressed up against the cage. Koutras has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Marks down to the mat. Marks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Marks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Jacinto Koutras has been cut.
A combination from Marks does no damage.
Marks throws a head kick that Koutras semi-blocks.
Koutras avoids the head kick by Marks.
Marks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koutras moves out of range of the body kick from Marks.
Cam Marks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks throws a head kick but Koutras moves out of range.

Koutras closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marks to the mat! Marks manages to get full guard.
Marks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koutras trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Marks is trying to control the position but Koutras postures up.
Koutras content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Marks controls Koutras momentarily but Koutras frees himself.
Koutras pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Marks is keeping the position for now.
Marks is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Nordic Top Team that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marks wants to stand up but Koutras is controlling him.
Koutras trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koutras is controlling him.
Koutras throwing strikes but missing.
Marks keeping full guard, as Koutras tries to pass.
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.
Marks can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koutras controls the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Marks misses with a straight right.
Marks throws a sloppy head kick and Koutras moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Koutras moves into the clinch successfully.

Koutras successfully pulls guard.
Marks wants to stand but Koutras has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Koutras is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Koutras looking to hit a scissor sweep but Marks is one step ahead there.

Marks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Koutras has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Marks has managed to get both his arms back between Koutras's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koutras trying to control the position here.
Marks is looking to stand up but Koutras won't let him.
Koutras tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Koutras keeping moving, preventing Marks from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Marks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Koutras circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jacinto Koutras will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Koutras's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed right hand from Marks misses the target.
Marks throws a hook to the side of Koutras's head but Koutras sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marks moves to clinch but Koutras breaks away

and Koutras counters by moving into the clinch.
Marks tries to throw a body punch but Koutras avoids it by throwing Marks back against the cage.

Koutras tightens his grip and picks Marks up, before dumping him to the ground. Marks manages to land in guard.
Marks has momentary wrist control but Koutras slips an elbow through the middle.
Koutras passes Marks's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Koutras missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Still in half guard, Koutras seems content to control.

Marks is defending against the submission attempts here by Koutras.
Koutras is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Koutras is working away from the top position though.
Koutras is looking to take a break and control but Marks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jacinto Koutras wasn't active enough on the ground.
Marks thuds his shin into the meat of Koutras's side.
Marks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koutras paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koutras swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koutras paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Marks gets caught napping as Koutras dives in and scores a takedown. Marks manages to retain guard.
Marks is looking to stand up but Koutras isn't so interested in that idea.
Koutras advances position into side control!
Marks is looking for a sweep.
Koutras working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Marks struggling a bit here.
Koutras tries to move into full mount but can't pass Marks's legs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koutras trying to control the action but Marks is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marks pushes Koutras away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Koutras gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Koutras tries for a kimura but Marks is defending well.
Koutras controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Marks wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Koutras is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Marks is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Marks prevents Koutras from moving into mount.

Koutras decides to stand back up. Koutras steps back and let's Marks get back to his feet.
Marks tries to clinch but Koutras moves out of range.
Marks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Marks.
Marks closes the distance looking to clinch

and Koutras counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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.
The cut man is working on Jacinto Koutras's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Koutras avoids the head kick by Marks.
Marks thows a body kick. Koutras tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Marks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marks throws a head kick that misses.
Koutras avoids the head kick by Marks.
Marks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Marks throws a sloppy head kick and Koutras moves out of range easily.
Koutras fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Marks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Marks wants it to stay on the feet.

Koutras shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koutras looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Marks won't allow Koutras to pass to mount.
Marks is looking for a sweep. Koutras is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Koutras throws a strike but Marks avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Koutras sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Marks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koutras is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marks controls Koutras momentarily but Koutras frees himself.
Koutras loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koutras sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Jacinto Koutras has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Marks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Koutras manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Marks on his heels. He'll look to pass Marks's guard now, I'm sure.
Koutras looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Koutras drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koutras jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koutras sitting in guard here, content to control.
Jacinto Koutras is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Koutras stands up from Marks's guard - Koutras perhaps looking for a knockout.
Marks wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koutras paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Marks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Koutras closes the distance and clinches.
Koutras on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Marks has a couple of punches blocked by Koutras.
Koutras tries for a takedown but Marks manages to get underhooks.
Cam Marks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacinto Koutras.
Marks looking to throw knees to the head but Koutras is blocking nicely.
Marks throws a punch but it's blocked by Koutras.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marks tries a knee to the head but Koutras blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koutras.
Marks misses with an elbow strike.
Cam Marks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koutras on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacinto Koutras!
Jacinto Koutras seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.