PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juho Koski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deon Carruthers Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juho Koski had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Deon Carruthers Jr will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Koski
vs
Carruthers Jr

186 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
20
189 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juho Koski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Deon Carruthers Jr!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carruthers Jr throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Koski looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Carruthers Jr connects with a high kick.
Koski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Carruthers Jr's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Carruthers Jr duly obliges.
Carruthers Jr keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Carruthers Jr scores with a body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Carruthers Jr.
Carruthers Jr lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carruthers Jr pushes Koski away with a front kick.
Carruthers Jr lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Carruthers Jr connects with an inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Carruthers Jr 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.
Carruthers Jr sizes up Koski with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Carruthers Jr works the jab nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Carruthers Jr.
Carruthers Jr lands a body shot.
Carruthers Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Koski takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Carruthers Jr connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Carruthers Jr connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Koski momentarily.
Koski takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Carruthers Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carruthers Jr throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
It looked like Koski was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Carruthers Jr lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Carruthers Jr.
Carruthers Jr tries to bum rush Koski with a series of wild strikes but Koski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Carruthers Jr moves into range and connects with a jab.
Carruthers Jr connects with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Carruthers Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Carruthers Jr throws a series of punches but Koski moves out of range.
Carruthers Jr misses with a wild combination.
Koski half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers Jr rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Koski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Carruthers Jr lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Carruthers Jr plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Koski takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Carruthers Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Koski moves out of range easily.
Carruthers Jr explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Carruthers Jr fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Koski.
Carruthers Jr misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers Jr rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Carruthers Jr tries to bum rush Koski with a series of wild strikes but Koski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A solid body kick from Carruthers Jr.
Carruthers Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koski circles away quickly and effectively.
Carruthers Jr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Deon Carruthers Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carruthers Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Carruthers Jr throws a head kick that half lands.
Carruthers Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koski went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Carruthers Jr lands a high kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deon Carruthers Jr dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Koski avoids a kick to the body.
Carruthers Jr fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Carruthers Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koski circles away quickly and effectively.
Carruthers Jr takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Carruthers Jr connects with a solid leg kick.
Koski throws a series of punches but Carruthers Jr moves out of range.
Carruthers Jr swinging wildly here.
Koski tries to counter with a takedown but Carruthers Jr is quick to defend against it.
Juho Koski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carruthers Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Koski appears to be looking for a big counter.
Carruthers Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carruthers Jr scores with a push kick.
Carruthers Jr scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Koski has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Carruthers Jr.
A head kick from Carruthers Jr lands but Koski takes it in his stride.
Carruthers Jr throws a shot to the body.
Carruthers Jr lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Carruthers Jr moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Koski's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Carruthers Jr connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Koski scrambles back to his feet.
Carruthers Jr lands with a kick to the ribs.
Carruthers Jr throws a series of punches but Koski avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carruthers Jr throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koski's head.
Carruthers Jr scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Koski takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Koski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Carruthers Jr's corner calls for a 1-2. Carruthers Jr obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Carruthers Jr dips to his left and cracks Koski with an uppercut!
Koski has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Sloppy strikes from Carruthers Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Carruthers Jr lands with a kick to the temple. Koski shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Carruthers Jr scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Koski doesn't seem bothered though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers Jr lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Carruthers Jr scores with a hook to the body. Koski takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Carruthers Jr.
Koski throws a body shot but no joy.
Carruthers Jr tries to bum rush Koski with a series of wild strikes but Koski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koski has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Carruthers Jr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Carruthers Jr misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koski is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Carruthers Jr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Deon Carruthers Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Carruthers Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Carruthers Jr sprawls and moves away.
Carruthers Jr is working the combinations to good effect here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Carruthers Jr lands a head kick. Koski smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Carruthers Jr takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Carruthers Jr lands a head kick. Koski smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Carruthers Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carruthers Jr lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koski's sensitive parts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deon Carruthers Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Carruthers Jr misses with the combination.
Carruthers Jr ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Carruthers Jr moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Koski will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Carruthers Jr lands with a slapping head kick.
Carruthers Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koski feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carruthers Jr slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Carruthers Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koski circles away quickly and effectively.
Carruthers Jr connects with a looping right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koski avoids the head kick by Carruthers Jr.
Carruthers Jr bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Carruthers Jr lands with a thumping leg kick.
Carruthers Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Carruthers Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Carruthers Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Koski throws a nice looking combination but Carruthers Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carruthers Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Koski circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Carruthers Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Carruthers Jr thuds his shin into the meat of Koski's side.
Koski is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Carruthers Jr throws a head kick but Koski moves out of range.
Carruthers Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice cross by Carruthers Jr.
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!
Koski throws a nice looking combination but Carruthers Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carruthers Jr scores with a spinning back kick!
Carruthers Jr scores with a sloppy right hand. Koski should have avoided that one.
A shot to the liver by Carruthers Jr. Beautiful body shot.
Koski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carruthers Jr misses with the combination.
Carruthers Jr misses with a double jab.
Koski attempts a counter takedown but Carruthers Jr avoids it well and moves away.
Carruthers Jr connects with a leg kick. Koski looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Koski looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Koski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Koski takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Carruthers Jr lands with a nice body punch.
Carruthers Jr throws a right and a left that Koski avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koski needs to keep his hands up - Carruthers Jr had a free shot at his head there.
Carruthers Jr keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Carruthers Jr pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Koski back to the cage. Carruthers Jr follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Carruthers Jr fails to land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A left lands for Carruthers Jr.
Carruthers Jr takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Carruthers Jr closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Carruthers Jr throws a push kick but Koski slaps the foot to one side.
Juho Koski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Deon Carruthers Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Koski shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deon Carruthers Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Carruthers Jr 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 24:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 24:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deon Carruthers Jr!