PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Victor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor has chosen Lie, Cheat & Steal" as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Owens
vs
Victor

183 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
20
279 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BlackStar Athletics
On Tap (Laundry Available)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joao Victor!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Victor.
Owens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Victor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Victor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Owens.
Owens lands a two punch combo.
Victor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Owens.
Owens is looking to counter punch.
Victor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Owens.
Victor thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Owens if he has to take too many more of those.
A slapping leg kick lands for Victor.
Owens tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Victor feints and then cracks Owens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Owens down.
Victor misses with a low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Owens.
Owens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Victor.
Victor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Owens has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Africa Training in the buildup to the fight.
Victor wants to slow Owens down by chopping away at his legs.
Owens checks a low kick from Victor.
Owens shoots in for a double leg but Victor sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A good leg kick by Victor.
Owens darts in looking for a takedown but Victor gets double underhooks and turns Owens into the ropes.
Victor connects with a high kick.
Victor tries to work over Owens's front leg with a kick but Owens checks it.
Good leg kick by Victor there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Owens takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Owens shoots for a takedown but Victor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Owens tries for a takedown but Victor circles away easily
and Victor counters with a nice leg kick.
Victor lets loose with a powerful body kick. Owens will feel that in the morning.
Owens takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Victor tries to score with a low kick but Owens moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A bone on bone clash there as Owens blocks the leg kick.
Victor tried to score with a low kick but Owens checks it.
Victor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Owens. That did some damage!
Owens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Victor tried to score with a low kick but Owens checks it.
Victor throws a solid leg kick but Owens takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Victor.
Victor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Owens clinches up against the ropes.

Victor breaks from the clinch.
Victor throws out a leg kick but Owens moves out of range and Victor only half commits.
Victor fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Owens checks it well.
Owens appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Victor throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Victor can pounce on him.

Owens clinches with his opponent.

Owens pulls guard effortlessly.
Victor preventing the sweep.
Owens is trying to keep Victor in close.

Owens looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Victor passes into half guard.
Victor wants to pass to mount but Owens is defending the position.
Owens wants to improve his position but Victor is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens wants to get back to full guard but Victor has passed into side control.
Owens tries to improve position but can't.
Owens pushes Victor away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Victor gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Owens struggling a bit here.
Victor wants to control but Owens is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Victor dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Owens with a lazy takedown attempt
and Victor counters with a nice low kick that buckles Owens's knee momentarily.
Victor with a jab.
Owens cracks Victor with an open hand slap.
Owens is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Owens fails with a takedown attempt.
Victor walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Owens checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Owens drops down looking for a counter takedown but Victor sprawls and moves away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Victor.
Nice sprawl there from Victor as Owens shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Victor misses with a low kick as Owens jumps back.

Owens instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Victor is looking to control Owens's arms but Owens gets an underhook and turns him. Now Victor has his back to the ropes.

Victor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Owens forces Victor back against the ropes and clinches.
Owens missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Victor breaks the clinch.
Victor connects with a solid leg kick.
Victor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Victor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Victor misses with an attempted mid kick.
Owens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Victor tries to avoid it but Owens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Victor to the ground. Victor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Victor appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Owens tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Victor swivels and escapes.
Victor wants to slow Owens down by chopping away at his legs.
Victor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Victor was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Victor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Owens's sensitive parts.
Both fighters circling a little - Victor finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Owens checks the leg kick.
Victor lands a leg kick that knocks Owens off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Victor counters with an outside leg kick.
That kick from Victor tenderised Owens's leg. Owens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Victor misses with a low kick.
Victor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Victor throws out a counter right but Owens avoids it with no problem.
Victor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joao Victor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body kick there by Victor.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Victor connects with a nice looking jab.
Owens fails with the takedown
and Victor counters with a straight right hand.
Owens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Owens fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Victor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Victor is looking to slow Owens down with leg kicks.
Owens misses with a takedown attempt - Victor sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Victor.
A looping hook to the body misses from Owens. Victor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Victor throws a nice inside leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Owens.
Owens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Victor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Owens's calf.
Victor throws a big shot that misses.
Victor thows a body kick. Owens tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Victor is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Victor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Victor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Victor throws a low kick but Owens avoids it.
Victor misses with a leg kick.
Victor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Victor misses the shot to the body.
Owens is looking to counter the offense by Victor and move into the clinch.
A combination from Owens does no damage.
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!

Owens darts in and clinches Victor up against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Victor.
Owens wants to get back to striking at distance but Victor won't allow it.
Victor throws a head punch that misses.
Victor wants to stall.
Victor working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Victor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Victor keeps Owens at a distance using the push kick.
Owens doesn't manage to clinch there - Victor circles away.
Owens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Victor's waist but Victor gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Owens off to one side.
Joao Victor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Owens walks forward, straight into a front kick from Victor.
Owens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Victor can pounce on him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Victor. That's going to slow Owens down.
An inside leg kick from Victor misses.
Victor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Jab, jab by Victor - just one landing.
Owens tries to clinch but Victor is having none of it.
Owens's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owens walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Victor lands a leg kick that knocks Owens off balance momentarily.
Victor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Owens darts in looking for a takedown but Victor gets double underhooks and turns Owens into the ropes.
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!
Victor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Victor thumps Owens with a low kick.
Victor has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Victor connects with an inside leg kick.
Victor defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Owens.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Owens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Owens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Victor. Victor obviously looking to wear him down.
Owens tries to clinch up but Victor circles away and keeps his distance.
Victor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Owens's calf.
Victor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Owens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Victor.
A slapping leg kick lands for Victor.
Owens doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Victor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Victor connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Owens's hands.
Owens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Victor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Owens closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Victor is trying to stall.
Victor lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Owens wants to stall.
Victor is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Joao Victor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Owens is looking to take this one to the mat.
Owens has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Victor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Owens fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens goes for a takedown in the clinch but Victor prevents it.
Owens has Victor pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Victor manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Owens changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Victor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Victor looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by Victor.
Owens shoots in for a takedown but Victor shows good takedown defense.
Victor thumps Owens with a low kick.
Owens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Victor is fending him off so far but Owens persists. Nope, Victor circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body kick from Victor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Victor.
Victor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Victor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Owens has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Owens tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Victor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Owens.
Victor scores with a jab to the jaw.
Owens checks a low kick from Victor.
Owens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Owens avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Victor lands a nice looking body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Owens with a poor takedown
and Victor counters with a nice body kick.
Victor throws a head kick that half lands.
Victor fakes the leg kick and cracks Owens in the body.
Kevin Owens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victor on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Victor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Victor 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Joao Victor!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Joao Victor!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Joao Victor!

Joao Victor wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Joao Victor thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.