PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juho Koski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Mcgregor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juho Koski had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 187.3lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Juho Koski looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Koski
vs
Mcgregor

186 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juho Koski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrew Mcgregor!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mcgregor looks to land a combination. Koski sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Koski looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Mcgregor scoring well with a low kick there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mcgregor is defended easily by Koski.
A little feinted left hand from Koski on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mcgregor throws a series of strikes that have Koski backpedaling.

Mcgregor moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Mcgregor on the inside.
Koski tries to break the clinch but Mcgregor is controlling the position.
Mcgregor is working for takedown but Koski is calmly controlling the position for now.

Mcgregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Andrew Mcgregor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mcgregor shoots in but Koski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koski is looking for a counter combo.
Juho Koski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Mcgregor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Mcgregor scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mcgregor is trying to get an arm triangle but Koski is defending well.

Mcgregor decides to stand back up.
Mcgregor scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mcgregor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koski tries to counter with a takedown but Mcgregor is quick to defend against it.
Mcgregor throws a series of strikes that have Koski backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Koski misses.

Mcgregor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mcgregor showed some decent athleticism there.

Koski makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Koski fails to land with a series of punches.
Mcgregor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Koski appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mcgregor doesn't manage to clinch there - Koski circles away.
Koski throws a big counter combination but Mcgregor scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mcgregor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Koski swivels and escapes.
Koski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mcgregor sprawls and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koski avoids the head kick by Mcgregor.
Mcgregor tries to close the distance and clinch but Koski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mcgregor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Koski tries to avoid it but Mcgregor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Koski to the ground. Koski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Koski dodges the punch combination from Mcgregor.
Mcgregor throws a body shot but no joy.

Mcgregor gets a takedown into half guard.

Mcgregor postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Koski to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown but Koski shows good takedown defense.
Koski stuffs the takedown.
Mcgregor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mcgregor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Koski misses with a series of wild punches.
Mcgregor scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Juho Koski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mcgregor dodges the punch combination from Koski.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mcgregor misses with a takedown attempt - Koski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mcgregor closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Koski slaps away a takedown attempt from Mcgregor, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mcgregor throws a one two combo.
Mcgregor dives in and grabs Koski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Koski pushes down on Mcgregor's head and hops out.
Mcgregor tries to clinch
and Koski counters with a three punch combo that has Mcgregor backing up. Mcgregor nods at Koski to acknowledge the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koski throws a series of punches but Mcgregor avoids them all with ease.
Mcgregor fails to land the takedown.
Koski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mcgregor sprawls and moves away.
Juho Koski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Mcgregor.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgregor fails with a takedown attempt.
Mcgregor throws a half hearted mid kick.
Koski attempts a counter takedown but Mcgregor avoids it well and moves away.

Mcgregor takes the fight into the clinch.

Mcgregor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mcgregor has a takedown stuffed.
Mcgregor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koski was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Koski!
Mcgregor fails to land the takedown.
Koski went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mcgregor misses with a wild combination.
Koski appears to be looking for a big counter.

Mcgregor closes the distance and pushes Koski back into the cage.
Mcgregor drops down looking for an ankle pick but Koski pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mcgregor looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Koski.
Mcgregor shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Koski defends it nicely.
Mcgregor shoots in looking for a takedown but Koski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mcgregor's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Koski throws a series of punches but Mcgregor moves out of range.
Mcgregor fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Koski avoids it really well and circles away.
Koski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcgregor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Andrew Mcgregor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Koski.
Mcgregor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mcgregor has managed to clinch.
Mcgregor is pushing Koski up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Mcgregor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Koski sprawls well. Koski wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mcgregor gets slowly back to his feet.
Koski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mcgregor sprawls and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Juho Koski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Koski throws a right and a left that Mcgregor avoids nicely.
Mcgregor throws a counter combo.

Mcgregor closes the distance and clinches.
Good body shot from Mcgregor.
Mcgregor wants a takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mcgregor takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Mcgregor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mcgregor looks for a takedown but Koski sprawls well.
Koski seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcgregor tries to clinch but Koski moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mcgregor lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've been informed that Mcgregor has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgregor tries to clinch up but Koski circles away and keeps his distance.
Mcgregor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Koski tries to avoid it but Mcgregor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Koski to the ground. Koski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Juho Koski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Mcgregor.
Mcgregor shoots in and drives through. Koski sprawls well.
Koski has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Koski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mcgregor circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck for Mcgregor with that takedown attempt.
Mcgregor throws a nice looking combination but Koski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mcgregor feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Koski kicks Mcgregor off and gets to his feet.
Koski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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!
A combination from Mcgregor does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Koski does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mcgregor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mcgregor has a takedown stuffed.

Mcgregor looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Koski pushes Mcgregor off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Mcgregor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcgregor moves into the clinch.
Koski wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mcgregor jumps guard but Koski turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mcgregor fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mcgregor is trying to stall.
Mcgregor taking a breather.

Mcgregor breaks from the clinch.
Mcgregor tries to close the distance and clinch but Koski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mcgregor lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koski circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mcgregor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mcgregor looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Koski manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Koski gets tackled into the cage by Mcgregor. Mcgregor maintains the clinch.

Koski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mcgregor looks to land a combination but Koski avoids it well.
Mcgregor scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mcgregor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koski is looking for a counter combo.
Mcgregor shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Koski as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Juho Koski.
I think Koski has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juho Koski!