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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juha Niska (ranked 1888 p4p, 2353 weight class) and Rob Smith (ranked 294 p4p, 359 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rob Smith was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 193 cm
38
212
31 - 22 - 1 |
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185 cm
26
220
14 - 11 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 31 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob Smith!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niska has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Niska takes a shot to the head.
Niska escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niska tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niska throws a wild body kick that Smith sees coming a mile off.
Niska fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Niska moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt
and Smith counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A nice leg kick lands there from Niska.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Niska clobbers Smith with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Niska moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Niska throws a leg kick that misses.
Smith looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Smith misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Niska.
Niska cracks Smith with a right hand to the side of the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Niska misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
Smith throws a counter combo.
Niska with a poor takedown
and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niska tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
A little jabbing left from Smith on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Smith on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Niska. Niska obviously looking to wear him down.
Niska misses with an uppercut
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niska misses with an uppercut.
Niska throws a head kick that Smith semi-blocks.
It looks like Rob Smith has been cut.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska fails in his attempt to clinch.
Niska throws a leg kick but Smith moved away.
Niska clinches up against the cage.
Niska has Smith pushed against the cage.
Smith swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Smith misses with a hook to the ribs.
Niska pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niska wants to clinch
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Niska pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Niska looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Niska wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith throws out a counter right but Niska avoids it with no problem.
Niska shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Niska throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A nice leg kick lands there from Niska.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Niska.
Niska lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smith circles away quickly and effectively.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Juha Niska dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Smith's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Smith blocks a jab.
Niska fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith moves into the clinch.
Niska lands a right hand.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Niska looking to stall.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Smith.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with a hook from the clinch.
Niska pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niska looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Niska persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith moves out of range as Niska strikes.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Niska lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Niska circles away.
Niska misses the shot to the body.
Niska misses with a takedown
and Smith cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A slow jab from Niska misses its intended target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Niska's head back.
Niska scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A nice leg kick lands there from Niska.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Niska.
It seemed like Smith was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Niska tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Niska throws an off balance right hand
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Niska misses with a low kick.
Niska tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Niska connects with a looping right hand.
Smith cracks Niska with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niska is looking to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Smith is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Juha Niska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niska looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Niska scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Niska!
Niska shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Niska. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niska is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Niska cracks Smith with a good jab.
Niska connects with a solid leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Nice body kick from Niska.
Niska throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Smith! But no joy.
Niska scores with a jab to the body.
Niska is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niska is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Niska wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Niska looks to clinch
and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Niska avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Niska has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Juha Niska will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rob Smith's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Niska throws a solid leg kick but Smith takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Niska.
Smith swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Niska pushes Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Niska stalling the fight.
Niska lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Niska stalling.
Niska blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith tries to throw a body punch but Niska avoids it by throwing Smith back against the cage.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Niska uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith tries for a takedown. No joy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Niska.
The referee calls for Niska to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Niska - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith tries to work over Niska's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Niska has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Smith is on him like a limpet, forcing Niska back against the cage.
Smith misses with a punch to the body.
Smith tightens his grip and picks Niska up, before dumping him to the ground. Niska manages to land in guard.
Niska pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niska throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith moves into the clinch.
Rob Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niska gets underhooks to prevent Smith's takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Juha Niska has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Smith.
Smith has Niska pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niska manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Niska shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Niska breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Niska misses with a head kick.
Niska doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Smith throws out a counter right but Niska avoids it with no problem.
Niska tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Niska defends it well.
Niska dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Smith. That did some damage!
Niska has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smith lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Smith tries to work over Niska's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Niska is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Niska blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Smith tightens his grip and picks Niska up, before dumping him to the ground. Niska manages to land in guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Niska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Niska wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith wants to control from the top but Niska keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Niska from controlling successfully.
Niska works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rob Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juha Niska is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niska content to control rather than advance.
And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Niska showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Niska, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juha Niska!
Juha Niska bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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