PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juho Koski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Rubio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Koski
vs
Rubio

186 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
186 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juho Koski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Diego Rubio!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koski fails to land the takedown.
Koski closes the distance and clinches up with Rubio, looking for a takedown. Koski pushes Rubio against the cage but Rubio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Rubio rushes Koski and presses him up against the cage.
Koski gets underhooks to prevent Rubio's takedown attempt.
Rubio is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Koski pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rubio breaks the clinch.
Koski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juho Koski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rubio stuffs the takedown.
Rubio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koski throws a series of punches but Rubio avoids them all with ease.
Koski sets himself, and Rubio steps forward looking for the clinch! Koski avoids it this time.
Koski shoots in for a double leg but Rubio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Rubio rushes Koski and presses him up against the cage.
Koski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rubio.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koski can't get the takedown.

Rubio pulls guard effortlessly.
Koski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rubio has his foot on Koski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Koski works his way back into a safe position though.
Rubio has control of Koski's left arm, preventing Koski from doing any damage.
Koski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koski wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.
Rubio pulls Koski in close to his closed guard and prevents Koski from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rubio doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rubio is controlling Koski's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rubio moves into range and clinches up with Koski.

Rubio gets control of Koski's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rubio will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

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

Rubio had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Koski defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubio lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rubio looking to pass the guard.
Rubio passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Koski tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Rubio easily slips into full mount!
Koski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Rubio there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Koski is looking to improve his position but Rubio isn't that keen on the idea.
Koski wants to control but Rubio is having none of it.
Rubio trying to control but Koski is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Koski is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rubio dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Koski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rubio but Rubio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rubio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rubio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rubio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Koski.
Koski leaves Rubio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Koski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rubio defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juho Koski. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rubio rushes Koski and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koski gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Koski ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Koski no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubio throws a big right hand that misses.
Rubio being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rubio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Koski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rubio won't allow Koski to sweep him here.
Rubio advances position into side control!

Rubio decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Rubio closes the distance and clinches.
Rubio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rubio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Koski can't find room to land a body shot as Rubio controls the action.
Koski trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Koski smiles and moves away.

Koski takes the fight into the clinch.

Rubio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koski avoids a kick to the body.

Koski darts in and clinches Rubio up against the cage.
Rubio tries for a takedown. No joy.

Rubio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rubio moves into the clinch.
Rubio letting Koski take a breather here.
Koski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rubio to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubio lands a shoulder strike.
Koski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rubio pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rubio can't get the takedown.
Rubio lands a right hand.
Rubio gets underhooks to prevent Koski's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koski is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rubio gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rubio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rubio closes the distance and clinches up with Koski, looking for a takedown. Rubio pushes Koski against the cage but Koski circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Koski is looking for a counter combo.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rubio shoots in looking for a takedown. Koski tries to sprawl out of it but Rubio keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Koski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rubio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Rubio misses with a takedown attempt - Koski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Koski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rubio clinches up with Koski and pushes him back against the cage.
Rubio jumps guard but Koski turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Koski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Koski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rubio rushes Koski and presses him up against the cage.
Rubio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koski gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Juho Koski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rubio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koski tries to pull guard but Rubio won't allow it.
Koski is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rubio moves into range and clinches up with Koski.
Koski is trying to pull guard but Rubio has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rubio gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Rubio jumps into guard, dragging Koski to the mat.
Rubio has Koski pulled in close to control his posture.

Rubio pushes Koski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rubio circles away.

Rubio moves into range and clinches up with Koski.

Koski breaks the clinch.

Rubio has taken the fight to the clinch.
Koski fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rubio goes for a takedown attempt but Koski pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Koski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rubio circles away quickly and effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rubio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Koski as Rubio shoots in.

Rubio closes the distance and clinches.
Rubio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koski stops a takedown attempt from Rubio.
Koski tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rubio's elbow.
Diego Rubio seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Rubio drags the fight down to the ground.
Koski wants to control from the top but Rubio keeps moving.

Rubio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Koski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Koski's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rubio is looking to stand up but Koski isn't so interested in that idea.
Koski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Koski looking to pass the guard.
Rubio is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A bone on bone clash there as Koski blocks the leg kick.
Koski fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Rubio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rubio 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Rubio!