PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marchrius Rossi (ranked 1553 p4p, 182 weight class) and Reima Poika (ranked 2128 p4p, 239 weight class). Rossi comes to the cage accompanied by Metal Slug Theme. Marchrius Rossi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rossi
vs
Poika

180 cm
21
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

168 cm
22
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Marchrius Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Reima Poika!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poika showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rossi.
Poika changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Reima Poika seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poika shoots and misses
and Rossi counters with a nice uppercut.
Poika throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rossi lands a head shot.
Poika pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Poika shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rossi's guard.
Poika landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poika looking to pass the guard.
Poika is still trying to improve position.
Rossi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Poika postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rossi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rossi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Poika stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rossi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rossi wants to stand but Poika is controlling the position.
Poika is fighting to break Rossi's control of his arms but Rossi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Poika has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Poika won't allow Rossi to get back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Poika is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Poika misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Poika shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rossi sprawls well. Rossi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Poika gets slowly back to his feet.
Rossi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rossi throws the kick towards the body but Poika avoids it.
Rossi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Poika sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Poika tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A bone on bone clash there as Rossi blocks the leg kick.
Poika throws a leg kick
enabling Rossi to counter with a crisp jab.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
The fighters circling - Rossi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A head kick misses from Poika.
Rossi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rossi delivers a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poika feints and as Rossi raises his hands in defense, Poika changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Poika wants to control from the top but Rossi keeps moving.
Rossi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Poika is one step ahead there.
Rossi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Poika is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Poika trying to control but Rossi is working from the bottom.
Poika preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poika works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rossi controlling the position for now.
Poika trying to mount his opponent but Rossi defends it.

Poika is trying to work for a kimura but Rossi is defending well.
Rossi is staying active underneath Poika, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Poika lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poika lands strikes from half guard.
Poika uses his free foot to push down on Rossi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rossi.
We've been hearing good reports from Rossi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Poika looking to control but Rossi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reima Poika dominated that round.
That's time! Rossi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Poika shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rossi as he avoids it easily.
Rossi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Poika uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rossi.
Poika blocks a jab.
Poika throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rossi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rossi looks to land a right hand but Poika moved out of range.
Poika changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Poika stuns Rossi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Poika slips under a jab from Rossi.
A lazy body kick from Rossi

and Poika counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi is trying to get back to half guard.
Poika connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rossi some visible discomfort.

Poika tries for a kimura but Rossi is defending well.
The strikes coming from Poika are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poika goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rossi has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Poika but great work by Rossi.
Rossi is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Poika tries to buck Rossi off but Rossi is having none of it.
Reima Poika has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rossi decides to stand up, so the ref orders Poika to his feet.
Rossi looks to throw the jab but Poika is out of range.
Poika with the counter takedown but Rossi avoids it easily.
Reima Poika is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Poika is looking to chop away at Rossi's legs.
A jab from Poika misses.
Poika throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rossi counters with a straight right hand.
Poika fails with a takedown attempt.
Rossi jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poika takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Poika misses with a head kick.

Poika closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Poika lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poika trying to control the position from guard on top but Rossi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rossi is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poika sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rossi's guard.
Poika not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rossi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rossi keeping moving, preventing Poika from controlling successfully.
Poika looking to pass the guard.
Poika throwing strikes from guard but Rossi blocks nicely.
Rossi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Poika is one step ahead there.

That's four 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.
Poika trying to control the position from guard on top but Rossi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Poika is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rossi is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rossi has escaped and now he's on top!

Poika escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rossi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rossi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poika swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marchrius Rossi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rossi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Poika misses with a jab, cross combination.
Poika will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Poika misses with a kick to the body
and Rossi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Poika shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rossi defends it nicely.
Poika swings for the body but Rossi moves out of range.
Poika bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Poika walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rossi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Rossi misses.
Rossi moves forwards but Poika connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Poika walks into a stiff left hand from Rossi.
Poika's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rossi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Poika scrambles back to his feet.
Rossi loads up on a big right hand but Poika slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poika swings for the body but Rossi moves out of range.
Marchrius Rossi is winning the standup battle so far.
Rossi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Poika throws a head kick but Rossi moves out of range.
Poika throws a combination that misses
and Rossi counters with a solid body kick.
Poika takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice straight punches there by Rossi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rossi.
Poika tries a head kick but it misses.
Poika looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rossi misses with a wild combination.
Poika takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rossi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Poika throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rossi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rossi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Poika throws a right hand that misses
and Rossi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poika tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rossi is able to avoid easily.
Poika finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rossi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rossi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rossi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poika throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rossi throws a lazy right hand but Poika sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rossi lands a nice hook to Poika's body. Poika takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rossi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Poika.
Poika is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rossi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Poika.
Poika with a nice cross.
Poika throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rossi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Poika ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Poika misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poika slips a straight right by Rossi.
Rossi moves out of range of the body kick.
Marchrius Rossi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Poika shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rossi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Marchrius Rossi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reima Poika.
Poika throws a nice head kick!
Good work by Rossi as he checks the leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Poika.
Rossi is looking to reverse the position.
Poika trying to control the position but Rossi is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poika wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rossi, who protects the arm well.
Poika prevents Rossi from escaping the position.
Rossi is trying to get back to half guard.
Rossi controls the position for a moment.

Poika working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Rossi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marchrius Rossi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rossi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marchrius Rossi!
A less than humble Marchrius Rossi misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.