PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juha Niska (ranked 1433 p4p, 210 weight class) and Riley Knox (ranked 1637 p4p, 240 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Niska
vs
Knox

193 cm
19
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
21
216 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juha Niska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Knox!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Niska paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A shot to the body from Niska misses
and Knox counters with a big head kick but Niska shrugs it off.
Niska throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Knox flicks out a counter leg kick but Niska steps away.
Knox misses with a straight right.
Niska throws a right and a left that both miss.
Knox throws a counter combo.
Knox throws a hook to the side of Niska's head but Niska sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Niska misses the body punch

and Knox counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Niska avoiding damage as Knox throws knees to the body.
Niska content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Knox tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Knox prevents Niska from breaking the clinch.
Knox is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox leaning his opponent against the cage.
Niska wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Knox scores with a nice short uppercut.
Niska avoiding damage as Knox throws knees to the body.
Niska wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox lands a knee to the body.
Knox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
Niska tries to break the clinch but Knox is controlling the position.
Niska wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Knox.
Niska is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niska's efforts to push away.
Niska takes a knee to the side of the body.
A frustrated look appears on Niska's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Niska tries to break the clinch but Knox is controlling the position.
Knox putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niska is breathing heavily.
Knox just leaning against Niska, taking a breather.
Knox lands a nice shot to the body.
Knox lands with a right to the head.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niska takes a knee to the side of the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Knox.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knox landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Knox tries to land a knee to the head but Niska blocks with his arms.
Knox keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niska's efforts to push away.
Knox misses with a knee strike.
Knox is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Knox landing knees to the body.
Knox lands a body shot.
Knox tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Knox is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Niska wants to get back to striking at distance but Knox won't allow it.
Knox pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Knox missing with knees to the body.
Niska wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knox has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska tries to break free but Knox pushes him back against the cage.
Knox keeps control of Niska as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knox putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Niska wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knox utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knox is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knox tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Knees to the body from Knox.
Knox lands a good knee to the midsection. Niska won't want to take too many of those.
Knox trying to land knees to the body.
Niska takes a shot to the head.
Knox tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Knox lands with a left to the head.
Knox tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Knox crunches a lovely knee into Niska's ribcage.
A right hand to the body from Knox.
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!
Knox working Niska over with knees to the body.
Knox crunches a lovely knee into Niska's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
A frustrated look appears on Niska's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Niska working hard to break the clinch.
Niska managing to block the knees to the body from Knox.
Knox lands a good knee to the midsection. Niska won't want to take too many of those.
Knox landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knox tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Knox works on Niska's body with a couple of short punches.
Knees to the body from Knox.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knox obliges.
Knox lands a body punch in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Knox scores with a nice short uppercut.
Knox stalling in the clinch.
Niska is trying to push Knox away but Knox has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knox lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knox lands a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knees to the body from Knox.
Knox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Knox 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.

Knox connects with a solid leg kick.
Good exchange - Knox coming out on top.
Niska ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knox moves away.
Knox raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Niska misses with a body shot
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Niska misses the jab.
As Niska backs off Knox throws a huge counter combo but Niska manages to avoid it all.
Niska misses with a series of wild punches.
Knox swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Niska.
Knox connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox slips a jab from Niska.
Niska throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Knox stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Niska wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Riley Knox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Niska throws a right hand that misses
letting Knox counter with a right hand.

It looks like Juha Niska has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Knox looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Knox staying out of range there.
Niska throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Knox counters by clinching up.
Knox scores with a shot to the side of Niska's head.
A frustrated look appears on Niska's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knox has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Knox throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Knox lands a knee to the body.
Knox missing with knees to the body.
Knox scores a nice knee to the body.
Knox lands a body punch in the clinch.
Knox unloads a knee to the mid-section. Niska lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knox lands a nice knee to the body.
Knox putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knox lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knox scores with a shoulder strike.
Knox lands a nice knee to the body.
Knox with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska has had enough of the clinch but Knox keeps him there for the moment.
Knox lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Niska backwards.
Niska is trying to break free.
Niska is looking to break free of the clinch but Knox has double underhooks.
Niska tries to break the clinch but Knox is controlling the position.
Niska looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Knox tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Knox keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niska's efforts to push away.
Knox with a knee to the head.
Knox lands a body shot in the clinch.
Knox keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Niska's efforts to push away.
Niska takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knox lands a good knee to the midsection. Niska won't want to take too many of those.
Knees in the clinch landing for Knox.
Knox scores with a hook to the body.
Knox working Niska over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
Niska wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
Niska wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knox putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Riley Knox seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niska takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knox lands a nice shot to the body.
Knox stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Knox scores with a knee to the head.
Knox crunches a lovely knee into Niska's ribcage.
Knox gets through Niska's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Niska on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Knox.
Knox unloads a knee to the mid-section. Niska lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knox lands a knee to the body.
Knox throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niska takes a shot to the head.
Knox throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Knox lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knox obliges.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knox prevents Niska from breaking the clinch.
Knox unloads a knee to the mid-section. Niska lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right handed body shot lands from Knox.
Knox is working Niska over against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knox obliges.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knox with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knox unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knox landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niska managing to block the knees to the body from Knox.
Knox tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Knox is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
Niska is trying to break the clinch but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riley Knox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Juha Niska's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Knox rushes Niska and presses him up against the cage.
Knox scores with a shoulder strike.
Niska avoiding damage.
Knox lands a knee to the head.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Niska avoiding damage as Knox throws knees to the body.
Knox unloads a knee to the mid-section. Niska lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Niska tries to break free but Knox pushes him back against the cage.
Knox lands a left hand.
Knox is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knox is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Niska is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Knox obliges.
Knox lands with a right to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Knox.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knox misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
A shot in the inside from Knox.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Knox.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox lands a good knee to the midsection. Niska won't want to take too many of those.
Knox lands a good knee to the midsection. Niska won't want to take too many of those.
Knox trying to land knees to the body.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox lands a knee to the body.
Knox utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knox working Niska over with knees to the body.
Knox is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Knox.
Knox lands with a short shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knox presses Niska against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Knox lands a nice knee to the body.
Knox lands a nice knee to the body.
Knox lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Knox putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Niska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox lands with a light punch inside.
Knox lands with a left to the head.
Knox has Niska pressed against the cage, preventing Niska from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niska takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees to the body from Knox.
A right hand to the body from Knox.
Knox throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Niska blocks it with crossed arms.
Knox tries to land knees in the clinch but Niska avoids the damage to the body.
Niska can't break the clinch.
Niska avoiding damage as Knox throws knees to the body.
Niska wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Knox.
Knox trying to land knees to the body.
A short left from Knox.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knox crunches a lovely knee into Niska's ribcage.
Knox lands an uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Niska takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knox lands a hook that snaps the head of Niska backwards.
A short left from Knox.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knox landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knox using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knox missing with knees to the body.
Knox makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Juha Niska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niska is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knox lands with a light punch inside.
Niska is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Knox is defending well.
Knox landing knees to the head.
Niska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Niska escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niska tests Knox's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A big right from Knox misses.
Niska lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Niska lands a right hook to the body.
Knox keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niska backing away here, and Knox unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Riley Knox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Niska looks to score with a jab to the body but Knox is just out of range.
Niska is looking to wear down Knox with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Knox keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Niska.
Niska throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knox.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Niska misses with a wild combination.
Knox wants to clinch up but Niska keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riley Knox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knox 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 26:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riley Knox!
Riley Knox seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.