PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pius Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Joutsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ho
vs
Joutsen

194 cm
22
225 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

189 cm
25
223 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pius Ho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jari Joutsen!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ho ducks under a wild hook from Joutsen.
Joutsen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A big left from Joutsen misses.
Joutsen throws a hook to the side of Ho's head but Ho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ho changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Joutsen throws a hook but Ho blocks it.
Ho slips under a jab.
Joutsen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ho defending well as Joutsen loads up on a big left hand.
Joutsen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ho on the side of the head.
Ho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joutsen as he avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Joutsen.
Joutsen throws a hook to the side of Ho's head but Ho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joutsen throws an overhand right that lands on Ho's shoulder, as Ho tries to avoid the shot.
Joutsen loads up on a big right hand but Ho slips the punch.
Joutsen scores with a nice head shot.

It looks like Pius Ho has been cut.
A swing and a miss from Joutsen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joutsen throws a jab but it's blocked by Ho.
Joutsen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ho.
Joutsen throws a shot from downtown. Ho moves away and avoids it.
Ho ducks under a wild hook from Joutsen.
Ho appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Joutsen throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Ho counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Joutsen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ho. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Joutsen being controlled here, momentarily.
Ho prevents Joutsen from getting back to his feet.
Ho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joutsen being controlled here, momentarily.
Ho throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ho loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joutsen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ho accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ho thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ho 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.
Ho throws a big elbow that misses.
Ho postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ho trying to control the position from guard on top but Joutsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ho takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Joutsen connects with a crisp jab.
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!
Joutsen throws a hook to the side of Ho's head but Ho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho blocks a jab.
Ho appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Joutsen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ho uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Joutsen.
Joutsen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ho's hands.
Joutsen throws an overhand right that lands on Ho's shoulder, as Ho tries to avoid the shot.
Ho seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ho moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ho on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Ho decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ho is looking to stall here but Joutsen recovers full guard.
Joutsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ho lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ho postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Joutsen working a defensive guard here.
Joutsen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ho trying to control but Joutsen is working from the bottom.
Ho stays in close to Joutsen's body and controls the position.
Ho throws a big elbow that misses.
Joutsen has his hands on Ho's head, controlling the position.
Joutsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Joutsen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pius Ho's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joutsen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Joutsen looks to throw the jab but Ho is out of range.
Ho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joutsen circles away.
Jari Joutsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joutsen slaps away a takedown attempt from Ho, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Joutsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ho closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joutsen circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pius Ho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joutsen missing with a left hand there. Ho was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Joutsen loads up on a big right hand but Ho slips the punch.
Joutsen throws an off balance right hand
and Ho counters with a stiff right hand.
Joutsen throws a jab when Ho was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joutsen throws a right hand that misses

and Ho counters with a single leg into guard. Joutsen didn't expect that.
Ho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ho is looking to work some ground and pound but Joutsen has wrist control.
Ho won't allow Joutsen to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joutsen wants to stand up but Ho is controlling him.
Joutsen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ho distracts Joutsen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Joutsen seems keen to control Ho's posture.
Ho wants to stand but Joutsen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ho with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ho won't allow Joutsen to sweep him here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Ho takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A telegraphed right hand from Joutsen misses the target.
Ho has a takedown stuffed.
Ho shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joutsen as he avoids it easily.
Joutsen throws out a counter right but Ho avoids it with no problem.
Jari Joutsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joutsen misses with an uppercut. Ho saw that one coming.
Ho changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ho takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Joutsen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Joutsen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ho on the side of the head.
Ho moves forwards but Joutsen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Joutsen misses with a right hand

and Ho counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Joutsen!
Pius Ho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joutsen struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho lands a nice forearm strike.
Joutsen can't do much from the bottom here.
Ho wants to control but Joutsen is keeping him busy.
Joutsen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Joutsen is trying to improve his position.
Joutsen is pushing Ho's head away, looking to escape. Ho manages to hold on to the position though.
Ho controls the position from side control.
Joutsen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Joutsen is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Joutsen tries to bench press Ho off him but Ho keeps the position.
Ho working the ground and pound but Joutsen is defending the strikes.
Joutsen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Joutsen looks to move to half guard but instead Ho has passed into mount! Damn!
Joutsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ho lands a big shot there that rocks Joutsen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jari Joutsen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pius Ho's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Joutsen jabs Ho right on the nose. Ho blinks but takes it well.
Ho tries to clinch but Joutsen is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ho.
Joutsen misses with a hook

and Ho counters with a nice double leg into side control. Joutsen won't be happy with that.
Ho tries to advance to mount but Joutsen denies him.
Joutsen is trying to improve his position.
Joutsen dodges the ground and pound from Ho.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joutsen is trying to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Joutsen can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joutsen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ho looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Joutsen is avoiding damage well.
Check out the look on Ho's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ho scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Joutsen to see if he's OK.
Ho wants to control but Joutsen is keeping him busy.
Ho in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ho connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Joutsen some visible discomfort.
Joutsen trying to remain calm as Ho controls from the top position.
Joutsen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Joutsen is trying to buck Ho off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen can't do much from the bottom here.
Joutsen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ho landing strikes.
Ho throws an elbow but Joutsen slips to the side and avoids it well.
Joutsen is looking for a sweep.
Ho sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Joutsen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Joutsen wants to control but Ho postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen is looking to reverse the position.
Ho is working Joutsen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Joutsen is looking to reverse the position.
Joutsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joutsen keeps working.
Ho tries to score with some ground and pound. Joutsen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ho lands a few punches from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Check out the look on Ho's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Ho working the ground and pound but Joutsen is defending the strikes.
Ho wants to control but Joutsen is keeping him busy.
Joutsen is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Joutsen prevents Ho from improving position.

Ho has hold of Joutsen's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Joutsen tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Ho cranks the arm and Joutsen screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Joutsen, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Pius Ho!