PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kosti Johannes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Lindros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johannes's entrance music is Raised Fist - Killing It. A fine choice. 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.

Johannes
vs
Lindros

181 cm
25
206 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

189 cm
23
218 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Nordic Nutrition (160 Recovery $150)
Fire Nutrition (Muscle Bulk 157)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kosti Johannes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Lindros!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johannes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lindros's sensitive parts.
Lindros misses with a body shot.
Johannes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johannes.
Lindros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Lindros.
Lindros takes one on the button.
Johannes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lindros will feel that in the morning.
Johannes ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Johannes avoids the head kick by Lindros.
Lindros misses with a two punch combination.
Johannes lands a two punch combo.
Johannes throws a quick inside leg kick.
Johannes tries to clinch up but Lindros circles away and keeps his distance.
Lindros takes one on the button.
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!
Johannes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lindros sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Johannes slips under a jab from Lindros.
Johannes slips a straight right by Lindros.
Lindros lands a really nice looking cross but Johannes seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindros thows a body shot but no joy.
Johannes wants to clinch.
Lindros swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johannes thumps Lindros with a low kick.
Lindros throws a sloppy body shot
and Johannes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Johannes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lindros.
Lindros dodges the punch combination from Johannes.
Lindros jabs Johannes right on the nose. Johannes blinks but takes it well.
Lindros moves out of range of the strikes.
Johannes throws a push kick but Lindros slaps the foot to one side.
Lindros misses with a body shot
and Johannes counters with a leg kick.
Lindros throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johannes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindros misses with a few strikes there.
Johannes dips to his left and cracks Lindros with an uppercut!
Johannes swings for the body but Lindros moves out of range.
Johannes tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A solid body kick from Johannes.
Lindros checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lindros throws a jab when Johannes was well out of range.
Lindros thows a body shot but no joy.
Lindros on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Johannes just misses with a punch to the body.
Lindros blocks a head kick by Johannes.
Johannes tries to clinch but Lindros moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Johannes. That snapped Lindros's head back.
Johannes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lindros throws an overhand right that lands on Johannes's shoulder, as Johannes tries to avoid the shot.
Lindros misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannes throws a head kick but Lindros moves out of range.
Lindros is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johannes.
Lindros fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Johannes is out of range.
Johannes slips a straight right by Lindros.
Johannes lands a jab-cross combination.
Lindros ducks under a wild hook from Johannes.
Johannes throws a leg kick which misses Lindros's front leg but catches the back leg as Lindros tries to avoid it.
Johannes moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johannes ducks under a wild hook from Lindros.
Lindros walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lindros takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Johannes misses with a body kick.
Johannes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lindros.
Lindros takes one to the side of the head.
Lindros misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johannes.
Lindros throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindros throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johannes lands a leg kick that knocks Lindros off balance momentarily.
Lindros swats away the attempt to clinch by Johannes.
Lindros tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johannes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johannes lands with an uppercut that bounces Lindros off the cage and back into rage.
Johannes doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindros circles away.
Lindros on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johannes. Johannes obviously looking to wear him down.
Some wild striking there from Lindros.
Lindros misses the shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lindros takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Johannes tries to clinch but Lindros is having none of it.
Lindros throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johannes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kosti Johannes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A solid leg kick lands there for Johannes.
Lindros fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johannes manages to avoid it.
Johannes just misses with a punch to the body.
Johannes tries to bum rush Lindros with a series of wild strikes but Lindros uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lindros on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johannes. Johannes obviously looking to wear him down.
Johannes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Lindros might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Johannes has got the better of the exchanges.
Lindros keeps the fight on the outside.

Johannes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lindros, pushing him back against the cage.
Johannes prevents a body shot from Lindros.
Lindros can't find room to land a body shot as Johannes controls the action.
Johannes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Johannes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lindros's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Johannes is struggling to control the position.
A short left from Johannes.
Lindros goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lindros working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johannes.
Lindros is trying to break free.
Johannes pushes Lindros back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Lindros is breathing heavily.
Lindros tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Johannes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johannes pushes Lindros back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lindros has had enough of the clinch but Johannes keeps him there for the moment.
Johannes throws a punch but it's blocked by Lindros.
Lindros tries to work over Johannes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Johannes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Johannes lands with a left to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Johannes.
Johannes lands a nice shot to the body.
Johannes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lindros.
Johannes lands a shoulder strike.
Johannes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lindros misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johannes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Johannes slows down the pace here.
Johannes cracks Lindros with a nice body shot.
Johannes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johannes lands with a right to the head.
Johannes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Johannes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johannes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johannes digs a right hand underneath Lindros's ribcage. Lindros let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short left from Johannes.
Johannes digs a right hand into Lindros's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lindros's gas tank.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannes working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Lindros is rocked!
Johannes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Johannes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Johannes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Lindros is still on wobbly legs! Can Johannes finish him?
Johannes stalls.
Lindros seems to have recovered his senses.
Lindros struggles to land a body shot inside as Johannes controls his hands.
Lindros misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four 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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kosti Johannes.
Johannes wants to slow Lindros down by chopping away at his legs.
Lindros has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Johannes.
Lindros throws a hook but Johannes avoids it easily.
Lindros throws a head kick that misses.
Lindros throws a hook but Johannes avoids it easily.
Johannes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lindros avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lindros throws a hook but Johannes avoids it easily.
Johannes just misses with a punch to the body.
Johannes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lindros loads up on a big right hand but Johannes slips the punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Johannes misses with a low kick as Lindros jumps back.
Johannes throws a half hearted mid kick.
Johannes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kosti Johannes is winning the standup battle so far.
Johannes lands a nice hook to Lindros's body. Lindros takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kosti Johannes dominated that second round.
That's time! Johannes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Johannes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lindros.
Lindros is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johannes.
Johannes swings for the body but Lindros moves out of range.
Johannes moves out of range of the strikes.
Johannes is looking to slow Lindros down with leg kicks.
Lindros takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lindros fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johannes manages to avoid it.
Johannes defending well as Lindros loads up on a big left hand.
Lindros throws a body punch but Johannes moves out of range.
Lindros throws a hook but Johannes avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johannes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lindros throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johannes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lindros throws a hook to the side of Johannes's head but Johannes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johannes stuns Lindros with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johannes scores with a leg kick.

Johannes clinches up against the cage.
Johannes throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johannes.
Come on Lindros - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Lindros takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good body shot from Johannes.
Johannes crunches a lovely knee into Lindros's ribcage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Johannes.
Johannes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Johannes.
Johannes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lindros avoiding damage as Johannes throws knees to the body.
Johannes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johannes lands with a light punch inside.
Johannes tries a knee to the head but Lindros blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johannes trying to land knees to the body.
Johannes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lindros backwards.
Johannes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johannes taking a breather.
Johannes missing with knees to the body.
Lindros throws a head punch that misses.
Lindros wants to stall.
Johannes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lindros misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Johannes.
Johannes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Johannes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Johannes is pushing Lindros up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short left from Johannes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannes slows down the pace here.
Johannes misses with some punches.
Lindros presses Johannes against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lindros cracks Johannes with a nice body shot.
Johannes trying to control the position but instead, Lindros has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johannes into the cage.
Lindros misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johannes lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lindros or not.
Lindros is trying to push Johannes away but Johannes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johannes stalling the fight.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johannes.
Johannes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kosti Johannes has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindros being controlled against the cage.
Johannes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lindros backwards.
Johannes misses with a punch on the inside.
Lindros blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johannes blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Johannes.
Johannes misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Lindros breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Johannes forces Lindros back against the cage and clinches.
Johannes lands a left hand.
Lindros can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johannes.
Johannes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johannes prevents a body shot from Lindros.
A right hook to the body lands for Johannes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kosti Johannes clearly takes 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.

Johannes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lindros swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice jab there from Johannes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johannes, right into the meat.
Crunch! Johannes slams his shin into Lindros's torso.
Lindros misses with a hook. Johannes ducked under it nicely.
Lindros connects with a high kick.
Lindros wants to slow Johannes down by chopping away at his legs.
Johannes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Johannes with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lindros blocks a leg kick.
Lindros misses with a low kick.
Lindros misses with a wild body shot.
Lindros steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johannes.
Lindros is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Johannes lands an overhand right.

Johannes takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johannes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lindros blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Lindros.
Johannes prevents Lindros from breaking the clinch.
Johannes lands an uppercut.
Johannes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lindros tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johannes's elbow.

Lindros breaks from the clinch.
Johannes scoring well with a low kick there.
Johannes connects with a leg kick. Lindros looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Johannes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johannes doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindros circles away.
An inside leg kick lands from Johannes.
Nice uppercut lands for Johannes. That snapped Lindros's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Lindros.
Johannes doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindros circles away.
Lindros connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Johannes's hands.
Johannes with a nice cross.
Lindros blocks a head kick by Johannes.
Lindros takes one on the button.
Lindros throws a hook to the side of Johannes's head but Johannes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johannes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lindros.
Johannes slips under a jab.
Johannes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lindros throws a predictable looking body shot
and Johannes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lindros throws out a loose jab but Johannes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lindros jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johannes moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannes punishes Lindros's body with a nice straight punch.
A punch combination from Lindros misses.
Lindros loads up on a big right hand but Johannes slips the punch.
Johannes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lindros takes one to the chin there.
Lindros feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Johanness jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Johannes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lindros manages to avoid it.
Johannes misses with a double jab
and Lindros counters with a nice uppercut.
Lindros has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Johannes stalks Lindros and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lindros's face. Lindros staggers backwards, shaken.
Johannes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lindros pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Lindros misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindros looks to score with a jab to the body but Johannes is just out of range.
Johannes ducks under a wild hook from Lindros.
Johannes moves out of range of the leg kick from Lindros.
Johannes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Johannes with a nice cross.
Johannes throws a leg kick but Lindros moved away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lindros.
Lindros throws a nice inside leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Johannes.
Johannes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lindros looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lindros looks to throw the jab but Johannes is out of range.
Lindros takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lindros just misses with a punch to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Lindros. Johannes shrugs it off though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kosti Johannes had his way with Eric Lindros in 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Some wild striking there from Johannes.
Lindros fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johannes manages to avoid it.
Johannes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lindros paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johannes throws a sloppy head kick and Lindros moves out of range easily.
Lindros tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johannes was well out of range. Poor timing from Lindros.
Johannes tries to clinch up but Lindros circles away and keeps his distance.
Johannes throws a sloppy head kick and Lindros moves out of range easily.
Johannes slips a jab from Lindros.
Johannes misses with a low kick as Lindros jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lindros misses with a series of wild punches.
Lindros misses the shot to the body.
Lindros circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lindros counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lindros lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Johannes has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Johannes and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Johannes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lindros.
An inside leg kick lands from Johannes.
Lindros connects with a right hand. Johannes shakes it off.
Lindros misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Johannes.
Johannes misses the shot to the body.
Johannes lands a nice looking body kick.
Johannes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lindros looks to score with a jab to the body but Johannes is just out of range.
Johannes doesn't manage to clinch there - Lindros circles away.
A good leg kick by Johannes.
Johannes thows a body shot but no joy.

Johannes has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindros misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lindros.
Johannes controlling the action here for a moment.
Johannes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johannes cracks Lindros with a nice body shot.
Lindros is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johannes.
Lindros misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johannes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lindros can do to turn this around?
Johannes is struggling to control the position.
Lindros blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Johannes.
Lindros is trying to force a seperation but Johannes has the dominant position.
Johannes misses with a punch on the inside.
Johannes scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johannes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lindros's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lindros tries to circle away but Johannes has him pinned against the cage.
Lindros pushes Johannes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Johannes on the inside.
Lindros can't find room to land a body shot as Johannes controls the action.

Lindros breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Johannes.
Lindros pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Johannes clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Johannes.
Lindros taking a breather.
Johannes with a knee to the head.
Eric Lindros has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like Eric Lindros has been cut.
Johannes slows down the pace here.
Still in the clinch, Johannes scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindros misses with a punch on the inside.

Lindros breaks from the clinch.
Johannes scores with a head kick.
Johannes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lindros counters with a nice body shot.
Johannes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johannes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lindros's sensitive parts.
Good standup being displayed there by Johannes as he connects with a hook.
A cross from Johannes lands.
Johannes scores with a head kick.
Johannes swings for the body but Lindros moves out of range.
Johannes lands a lovely overhand right.
Johannes connects with an inside leg kick.
Kosti Johannes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A jab from Lindros misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kosti Johannes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Johannes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 50:44
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 50:43
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 50:43

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kosti Johannes!
Kosti Johannes retains his light heavyweight title!