PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jari Joutsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas has chosen Let the body's hit the floor as his entrance music. Michael Thomas acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Joutsen
vs
Thomas

189 cm
27
223 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

182 cm
20
226 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jari Joutsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Michael Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joutsen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thomas under the eye.
Joutsen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Joutsen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Joutsen sizes up Thomas with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thomas walks into a straight right hand from Joutsen.
Joutsen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joutsen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joutsen misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Thomas.
Thomas takes a swing at Joutsen's ribcage but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab, jab by Thomas - just one landing.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Jari Joutsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas takes one to the chin there.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thomas tries to work over Joutsen's front leg with a kick but Joutsen checks it.
Joutsen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Joutsen throws a big shot that misses.
Joutsen misses with the combination.
Thomas looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joutsen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Joutsen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad The Island in the buildup to the fight.
Joutsen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Joutsen wants it to stay on the feet.
Joutsen's corner calls for a 1-2. Joutsen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Joutsen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thomas feints a jab promting Joutsen to slip. Thomas then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Joutsen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A jab lands there for Joutsen.
Joutsen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Joutsen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Joutsen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A swing and a miss from Joutsen.
Joutsen misses with a looping left.
Thomas wants to counter the offense by Joutsen and move into the clinch position.
Joutsen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thomas defending well as Joutsen loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas throws a body punch but Joutsen moves out of range.
Thomas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thomas shoots in but Joutsen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jari Joutsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little feinted left hand from Joutsen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Joutsen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joutsen throws a big shot that misses.
Thomas tries to counter by closing the distance.
A right-left combo lands from Joutsen.
Joutsen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Joutsen scores with a punch to the head.
Thomas walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Thomas is rocked!
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Joutsen.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joutsen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thomas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thomas tries to counter with a clinch but Joutsen shakes him off and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joutsen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joutsen throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.
Joutsen misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Joutsen finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Joutsen scores with a nice head shot.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Thomas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Joutsen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Joutsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joutsen looks to throw the jab but Thomas is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Joutsen misses the target.
Joutsen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thomas slips under a jab from Joutsen.
Joutsen misses with a looping left.
As Joutsen backs off Thomas throws a huge counter combo but Joutsen manages to avoid it all.
Joutsen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Joutsen.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Joutsen.
Joutsen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Joutsen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Joutsen lands a shot to the body.
Thomas trying to control the position but instead, Joutsen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Thomas into the cage.
Thomas is trying to push Joutsen away but Joutsen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thomas looking to stall.
A right hand to the body from Joutsen.
Thomas looking to slow down the pace here.
Thomas lands a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joutsen lands with a light punch inside.
Thomas is looking to control Joutsen's arms but Joutsen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thomas has his back to the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Joutsen scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Joutsen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Joutsen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas slips under a jab from Joutsen.
Joutsen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joutsen throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas throws out a counter right but Joutsen avoids it with no problem.
Thomas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Joutsen misses the jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Joutsen misses the target.
Joutsen looks to land a left hand but Thomas moved out of range nicely.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Joutsen is just out of range.
Joutsen misses with a straight right.
Thomas connects with a body shot.
Thomas tries to clinch but Joutsen moves out of range.
Joutsen missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Joutsen cracks Thomas with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Thomas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joutsen thuds his right hand into Thomas's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Joutsen as he avoids it easily.
Joutsen throws the left hand but Thomas avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas walks into a left hand.
Joutsen cracks Thomas with a good jab.
Joutsen scores with a nice head shot.
Jari Joutsen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thomas throws a lazy right hand but Joutsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joutsen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jari Joutsen is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Joutsen.
Thomas is still on wobbly legs! Can Joutsen finish him?
Thomas misses with the combination.
Thomas seems to have recovered his senses.
Thomas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Joutsen.
A swing and a miss from Joutsen.
Joutsen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joutsen misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Joutsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas walks into a jab.
Thomas swings for the body but Joutsen moves out of range.
Joutsen throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas blocks a jab.
Joutsen thuds his right hand into Thomas's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thomas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Joutsen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Joutsen sends Thomas crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Joutsen is motioning to the referee to let Thomas up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Joutsen missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Joutsen lands a really nice looking cross but Thomas seems unphased.
Joutsen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Joutsen connects with a looping right hand.
Thomas scores with a shot to the body.

Joutsen feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Thomas sprawling to the canvas! Thomas rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Joutsen finish him?!
Joutsen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joutsen misses with a straight left.
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thomas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Joutsen.
A swing and a miss from Joutsen.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joutsen.
Michael Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joutsen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Joutsen circles away.
A big left from Joutsen misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Joutsen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thomas on the side of the head.
A jab from Joutsen misses.
Jab, jab by Joutsen - just one landing.
Joutsen throws an overhand right that lands on Thomas's shoulder, as Thomas tries to avoid the shot.
Joutsen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Joutsen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little feinted left hand from Joutsen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A combination from Thomas does no damage.
A right-left combo lands from Thomas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joutsen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Joutsen misses with a looping left.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joutsen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Joutsen throws a combination that misses

and Thomas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Joutsen lands with a left to the head.
Joutsen lands a hook to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Joutsen.
Joutsen stalling against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is keeping an eye on Joutsen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Joutsen gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Thomas working Joutsen over with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Joutsen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thomas throws out a loose jab but Joutsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joutsen throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Joutsen misses the jab.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Joutsen in a clinch.
Joutsen lands a shot to the body.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Joutsen.
A nice left hand lands by Joutsen.
A bit of stalling here from Joutsen.
Joutsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Joutsen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Joutsen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Joutsen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short left from Joutsen.

Joutsen drops Thomas onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Thomas is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
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 creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Thomas's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Thomas drops to his knees and Joutsen pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jari Joutsen!
The defeated Michael Thomas had this to say: 'Nobody win's all the time. Someone has to get lucky at least once in their life'.