PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Smith (ranked 4824 p4p, 4757 weight class) and Rasmus Koivu (ranked 0 p4p, 557 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Koivu

181 cm
21
170
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
167
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rasmus Koivu!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivu throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.

Koivu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Koivu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koivu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith throws a series of punches but Koivu avoids them all with ease.

Koivu moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith stalling in the clinch but Koivu improves position.
Smith blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith is looking to take this one to the mat.
Smith has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Koivu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Koivu, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Koivu against the cage but Koivu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Koivu with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koivu moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith tries to pull guard but Koivu won't allow it.
Koivu fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Smith wants to stall.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Koivu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smith is trying to push Koivu away but Koivu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Koivu lands a shoulder strike.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Koivu is controlling the position.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.

Koivu breaks from the clinch.
Koivu throws a series of punches but Smith moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koivu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smith avoids it really well and circles away.
Koivu shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horrible takedown attempt by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Koivu, which made it look bad.
Nice sprawl there from Smith as Koivu shoots in.
No luck for Koivu with that takedown attempt.

Koivu forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koivu manages to pull guard.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Koivu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Koivu seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Koivu keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Koivu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koivu trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Koivu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Koivu closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.
Smith wants a takedown.
Koivu takes an elbow to the temple.
Koivu looking for a takedown.

Koivu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Nice takedown defense from Koivu. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasmus Koivu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Koivu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Smith.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Koivu.
Koivu shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Koivu swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Koivu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Koivu fails with a takedown attempt.
Alex Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasmus Koivu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses the shot to the body.
Koivu shoots and misses
and Smith counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Koivu gets a clinch.
Koivu prevents a takedown attempt there.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Koivu blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Koivu blocks it.

Koivu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Koivu regains half guard there - taking advantage of Smith's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koivu is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.

Koivu has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Smith is on him like a limpet, forcing Koivu back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Koivu won't allow it.

Koivu pulls guard effortlessly.
Koivu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Koivu wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Koivu has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith wants to control but Koivu is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koivu has control of Smith's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Smith regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Smith tries to hold on but Koivu postures up.
Koivu controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koivu thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasmus Koivu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koivu shoots and misses
and Koivu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith tries to clinch but Koivu is having none of it.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Koivu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Smith finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Koivu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivu wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Koivu is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Rasmus Koivu has been cut.
Koivu tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.
Alex Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasmus Koivu.

Koivu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koivu shapes to counter with a head kick.
Smith tries to score with a low kick but Koivu moves his leg out of the way.
Koivu shoots in but no luck this time.

Koivu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smith is trying to pull guard but Koivu has him pressed against the cage.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.

Koivu breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koivu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
Smith throws an elbow but it misses.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Koivu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Koivu manages to pull guard.
Koivu managing to control the position.

Koivu manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koivu is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Koivu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Koivu keeps him there for the moment.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Koivu ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Koivu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Smith trying to control but Koivu is working from the bottom.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Smith postures up in Koivu's guard and throws a big left but Koivu blocks it.
Koivu keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Koivu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Koivu manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Koivu's guard.
Koivu has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Koivu has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Koivu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith goes for a double leg but Koivu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Koivu continues to drive forward.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Koivu is looking for the big counter here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasmus Koivu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koivu 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasmus Koivu!