PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Osteen (ranked 3906 p4p, 25426 weight class) and Viktor Spopovich (ranked 191 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Osteen
vs
Spopovich

190 cm
25
300
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joseph Osteen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Viktor Spopovich!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spopovich clinches.
Osteen misses with a knee to the head.
Spopovich avoiding damage as Osteen throws knees to the body.
Osteen misses with a knee to the head.
Spopovich managing to block the knees to the body from Osteen.
Osteen is breathing heavily.
Osteen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spopovich.
Osteen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Spopovich.

Spopovich has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Osteen uses from the top position.
Spopovich looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Spopovich has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cozad MMA Helsinki. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osteen stopping the sweep attempt from Spopovich.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spopovich is looking for a triangle but Osteen pushes his legs off easily.
Osteen won't allow Spopovich to sweep him here.

Spopovich working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Osteen has passed into half guard!
Spopovich tries to roll over but Osteen keeps him under control.

Osteen stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

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.
Spopovich moves away from the strike by Osteen.
Spopovich drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Osteen defends it well.
Spopovich ducks under a wild hook from Osteen.
Spopovich throws a head kick but Osteen moves out of range.

Osteen has closed the distance and engaged Spopovich in a clinch.
Spopovich is trying to push Osteen away but Osteen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Osteen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spopovich is defending well for now.
Osteen tries to land knees in the clinch but Spopovich avoids the damage to the body.
Spopovich avoiding damage as Osteen throws knees to the body.
Spopovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spopovich avoiding damage as Osteen throws knees to the body.
Spopovich tries to pull guard but Osteen holds him up against the cage and eventually Spopovich drops back down to his feet.
Osteen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spopovich is defending well for now.
Osteen tries a knee to the head but Spopovich blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osteen trying to land knees to the body.

Spopovich successfully pulls guard.

Spopovich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Spopovich pulls Osteen in close to his closed guard and prevents Osteen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Spopovich wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Spopovich not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spopovich looking for a sweep. Not yet Spopovich, not yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Osteen stands and steps away. Spopovich gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Osteen pushes Spopovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Osteen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Spopovich blocks it with crossed arms.
Spopovich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Osteen tries to land knees in the clinch but Spopovich avoids the damage to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Spopovich's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Osteen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Osteen gets tackled into the cage by Spopovich. Spopovich maintains the clinch.
Spopovich fails to pull guard.
Osteen missing with knees to the body.
Spopovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Spopovich managing to block the knees to the body from Osteen.

Spopovich pulls guard.

Spopovich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Osteen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Osteen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Spopovich looking for a sweep. Not yet Spopovich, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spopovich keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spopovich had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Osteen defends it easily.
Spopovich tries to strike from the bottom.
Osteen won't allow Spopovich to sweep him here.

Osteen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

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.

Osteen instigates a clinch.
Osteen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Spopovich has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Osteen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Osteen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Spopovich goes for a takedown in the clinch but Osteen prevents it.
Spopovich throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Osteen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Spopovich is defending well for now.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Osteen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Spopovich tries to pull guard but Osteen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Joseph Osteen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Spopovich.
Osteen lands a good knee to the midsection. Spopovich won't want to take too many of those.
Osteen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Spopovich lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osteen scores a nice knee to the body.
Spopovich has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Osteen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Spopovich avoiding damage as Osteen throws knees to the body.
Osteen has Spopovich pressed against the cage, preventing Spopovich from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Spopovich tries to circle away but Osteen has him pinned against the cage.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spopovich avoids it.
Spopovich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A shot in the inside from Spopovich.
Joseph Osteen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Osteen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Spopovich in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Spopovich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Osteen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Osteen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spopovich can do to turn this around?
Osteen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spopovich's efforts to push away.
Osteen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spopovich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spopovich will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Osteen up against the cage.
Osteen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spopovich.
Osteen misses with a knee to the head.
Spopovich working hard to break the clinch.
Spopovich avoiding damage as Osteen throws knees to the body.
Spopovich avoiding damage as Osteen throws knees to the body.

Spopovich ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Spopovich no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Osteen won't allow Spopovich to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Spopovich working for a triangle but Osteen defends it easily.
Spopovich has Osteen pulled in close to control his posture.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Osteen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Spopovich darts in and clinches Osteen up against the cage.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Osteen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Spopovich drags the fight down to the ground.
Spopovich throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Spopovich is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Spopovich looking for a guillotine here but Osteen defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spopovich wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spopovich is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Osteen prevents Spopovich from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Spopovich is working an open guard so Osteen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Osteen misses with a straight right.
Spopovich is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Spopovich avoids the body shot from Osteen.

Osteen rushes Spopovich and presses him up against the cage.
Osteen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Spopovich has Osteen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Osteen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the head but Spopovich blocks with his arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Osteen obliges.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Spopovich jumps guard but Osteen stands there with Spopovich around his waist. Spopovich gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Osteen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Osteen prevents a body shot from Spopovich.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the head but Spopovich blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osteen landing knees to the body.
Osteen misses with a knee strike.
Spopovich goes for a takedown in the clinch but Osteen prevents it.
Joseph Osteen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Spopovich.
Osteen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Osteen lands a knee to the body.
Spopovich tries to pull guard but Osteen holds him up against the cage and eventually Spopovich drops back down to his feet.
Joseph Osteen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Osteen missing with knees to the body.
Spopovich avoiding damage.
Spopovich is trying to push Osteen away but Osteen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Osteen with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osteen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spopovich avoids it.
Spopovich managing to block the knees to the body from Osteen.
Osteen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Spopovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Osteen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Osteen throws a knee to the head but misses.

Spopovich decides to pull guard.

Osteen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Spopovich pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Osteen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Spopovich moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Osteen clinches up with Spopovich and pushes him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Osteen avoiding damage as Spopovich throws knees to the body.
Viktor Spopovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spopovich misses with a hook to the ribs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Osteen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Osteen, 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Osteen!