PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rami Kottari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rouche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kottari
vs
Rouche

188 cm
26
255 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
275 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rami Kottari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Antonio Rouche!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kottari closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rouche quickly recovers to half guard.
Kottari wants to take a breather but Rouche is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rouche can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kottari seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Kottari seems to be looking for submissions.
Kottari is keen to just control but Rouche is a slippery customer.
Kottari is taking a breather. Rouche says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rouche avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kottari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kottari prevents Rouche from improving his position.
Kottari throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rouche is refusing to be controlled, as Kottari sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Rami Kottari wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rouche with a poor takedown
enabling Kottari to counter with a crisp jab.
Kottari misses with a hook.
Kottari just misses with a punch to the body.
Kottari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rouche with a poor takedown

and Kottari counters with a single leg into guard. Rouche didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rouche trying to control the position.
Kottari throws a big right hand that misses.
Kottari content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kottari looking to pass the guard.
Kottari is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kottari has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kottari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kottari wants to control from the top but Rouche keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kottari trying to move into half guard but instead Rouche has managed to sweep!
Rouche is looking to work some ground and pound but Kottari has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kottari is on top in guard.
Rouche keeping full guard, as Kottari tries to pass.
Kottari throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kottari content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kottari looking to pass the guard.
Kottari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rouche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kottari looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rami Kottari.
Rouche slips a jab from Kottari.
Rouche slips a jab from Kottari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Kottari dominated 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.

Kottari throws a big shot that misses.
Kottari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rouche looks for a takedown but Kottari sprawls well.
Rouche misses with a few strikes there.
Rouche tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kottari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rouche somewhat.
Rouche shoots in looking for a takedown. Kottari tries to sprawl out of it but Rouche keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kottari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rami Kottari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rouche.
Rouche keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rouche tries to land a front kick but Kottari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rouche ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kottari tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rouche was well out of range. Poor timing from Kottari.
Kottari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rouche throws the left hand but Kottari avoids the punch easily.
Kottari misses the jab.
Rouche shoots in for a takedown but Kottari shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rouche with a poor takedown
and Kottari counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rouche is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kottari takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Antonio Rouche has been cut.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rouche checks a leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rouche uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kottari.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kottari. Rouche does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kottari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rouche uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kottari.
Kottari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rouche can do to turn this around?
Rouche tries for a takedown but Kottari circles away easily

and Kottari counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rouche's guard now.
Rouche utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kottari throws a big elbow that misses.
Rouche keeping moving, preventing Kottari from controlling successfully.
Kottari looking to sit in guard and control but Rouche gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rouche postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kottari has his feet on Rouche's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Antonio Rouche seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kottari misses with an uppercut.
Rouche uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kottari.
Rouche moves out of range of the strikes.
Kottari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kottari misses with a looping left.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kottari here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Kottari staying out of range there.
Rouche tries to close the distance and clinch but Kottari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kottari connects with a body shot that sends Rouche's belly button to the back.

Kottari drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kottari trying to control but Rouche is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kottari passes Rouche's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kottari throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kottari is trying to control the action in half guard but Rouche is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kottari seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kottari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rouche taking some punishment here, with Kottari in his half guard.
Kottari trying to pass the guard but Rouche defending well.
Kottari is thwarting Rouche's attempts to control the position.
Kottari not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rouche is not content to let Kottari control the position.
Kottari missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Kottari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Rouche's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A slow jab from Kottari misses its intended target.
Rouche is trying desperately to land a takedown but Kottari is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Rouche.
Kottari misses with a wild body shot.
Rami Kottari is winning the standup battle so far.

Kottari drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rouche keeping moving, preventing Kottari from controlling successfully.
Kottari throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rouche works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kottari controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kottari with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kottari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rouche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Rami Kottari wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rouche moves out of range as Kottari strikes.
Kottari jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Kottari shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rouche is trying to defend but Kottari finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kottari in particular looking to stall.
Rouche avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kottari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kottari trying to control the action but Rouche is working from the bottom.
Kottari lands with a punch from half guard.
Kottari is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rouche reverses the position - he's now on top in Kottari's guard.
Rouche throws a strike but Kottari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rouche takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kottari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rouche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kottari postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rami Kottari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kottari trying to control the position from guard on top but Rouche is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kottari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kottari trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rouche manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rouche scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kottari manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kottari raining down shots from the mount!
Kottari landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kottari punching from mount but Rouche doing a good job of avoiding damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kottari postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rouche looks a forlorn figure.
Antonio Rouche has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rami Kottari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kottari scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rouche?

And that's the end of the fight!
Rami Kottari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kottari 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rami Kottari!
A very excited looking Rami Kottari made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.