PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juha Niska (ranked 2359 p4p, 2094 weight class) and Clinch King Smash Machine (ranked 325 p4p, 298 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Niska
vs
Smash Machine

193 cm
36
212
26 - 19 - 0

194 cm
31
218
17 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

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 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Clinch King Smash Machine!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niska needs to keep his hands up - Smash Machine had a free shot at his head there.
Smash Machine throws a half hearted mid kick.
Smash Machine lunges at Niska with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Niska's hand.
Niska feints and then cracks Smash Machine's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smash Machine down.
Smash Machine tries to clinch there but Niska circles away.
Smash Machine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Niska.
Nice jab there from Smash Machine.
Niska waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smash Machine.
Niska tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smash Machine was well out of range. Poor timing from Niska.
Niska misses with a low kick.
Niska throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smash Machine counters with a body kick.
Good work by Smash Machine as he checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smash Machine scores with a jab. Niska acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Smash Machine instigates a clinch.
Niska controlling the action here for a moment.
Smash Machine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Niska has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smash Machine landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Smash Machine looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smash Machine looking to throw knees to the head but Niska is blocking nicely.
Smash Machine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Smash Machine working Niska over with knees to the body.
Niska blocks an uppercut.
Smash Machine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smash Machine trying to land knees to the body.
Smash Machine is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Smash Machine tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Niska avoids it.
Smash Machine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stalling in the clinch from Niska.
Smash Machine has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niska avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Niska can't find room to land a body shot as Smash Machine controls the action.
Smash Machine lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Juha Niska has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niska is looking for a takedown.
Niska has been working on his balance at Sparks gym, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Smash Machine.
Smash Machine is pressed up against the cage. Niska has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smash Machine down to the mat. Smash Machine avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smash Machine scores with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niska walks into a left hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Smash Machine.
Niska throws a low kick but Smash Machine avoids it.
Smash Machine moves out of range of the strikes.

Smash Machine changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Niska looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Niska is trying to get back to half guard.
Niska prevents Smash Machine from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska tries to buck Smash Machine off but Smash Machine is having none of it.
Smash Machine with the ground and pound but Niska regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Niska kicks off Smash Machine and gets to his feet.
Niska throws a leg kick but Smash Machine sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Niska shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smash Machine but Smash Machine pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Niska. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smash Machine shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Niska pinned against the cage. Niska gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
It looked like Niska wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Niska moves into range and connects with a jab.

Smash Machine 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.
Smash Machine wants to control from the top but Niska keeps moving.
Smash Machine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smash Machine is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Smash Machine looking to sit in guard and control but Niska gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smash Machine looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Niska has picked Smash Machine up and slammed him! Smash Machine can't keep hold of the triangle and Niska manages to pass to side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Clinch King Smash Machine dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juha Niska's cut.
That's time! Niska's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smash Machine tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Niska defends well and Smash Machine ends up having to push Niska into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Niska just misses with a punch to the body.
Smash Machine misses with a wild combination.
Smash Machine is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Niska takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smash Machine tries to clinch but Niska is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Niska. Smash Machine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Niska drops his hands momentarily and Smash Machine takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Niska swings for the body but Smash Machine moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smash Machine tries to land a front kick but Niska steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Niska shoots in for a takedown but Smash Machine shows good takedown defense.
Niska shoots for a takedown but Smash Machine saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Niska just misses with a punch to the body.
Clinch King Smash Machine seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska sizes up Smash Machine with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Smash Machine misses with a takedown attempt - Niska sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Niska misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smash Machine throws out a counter right but Niska avoids it with no problem.
Smash Machine looks for a takedown but Niska sprawls well.
Juha Niska has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clinch King Smash Machine.
Decent striking displayed by Smash Machine there.
Niska listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Niska digs a good body shot into Smash Machine's ribs.
Niska fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Smash Machine slips under a jab from Niska.
Smash Machine shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Niska moves into the clinch.
Smash Machine scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niska blocks a body shot from Smash Machine.
Smash Machine tries a knee to the head but Niska blocks it.
Smash Machine lands an uppercut.
Niska slows down the pace here.
Smash Machine misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niska.
Smash Machine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smash Machine has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niska avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smash Machine crunches a lovely knee into Niska's ribcage.
Smash Machine is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smash Machine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Niska tries to score a body lock takedown but Smash Machine shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Smash Machine tries to land a knee to the head but Niska blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine throws a head punch that misses.
Smash Machine missing with knees to the body.

Smash Machine jumps guard.
Niska advances position into side control!
Smash Machine can't do much from the bottom here.
Smash Machine is being controlled here.
Smash Machine is looking for a sweep.
Niska wants to control but Smash Machine is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smash Machine can't do much from the bottom here.
Niska is looking to take a break and control but Smash Machine is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Niska working away.
Niska wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smash Machine keeps working.
Niska content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Clinch King Smash Machine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Juha Niska's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Smash Machine is looking to land body kicks.
Jab from Smash Machine.
Smash Machine is looking to clinch.
Smash Machine tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smash Machine fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Niska avoids it really well and circles away.
Niska throws a low kick but it's checked well by Smash Machine.
Niska moves out of range of the strikes.
Smash Machine on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska throws a head kick that misses.
Smash Machine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Niska is looking for a counter combo.
A jab lands there for Smash Machine.
Niska shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Smash Machine fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Niska sprawls well initially but Smash Machine persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Smash Machine is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Niska has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smash Machine stalling.
The fighters are battling for position here. Niska manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smash Machine trying to control the position from guard on top but Niska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Niska keeping full guard, as Smash Machine tries to pass.
Smash Machine wants to control from the top but Niska keeps moving.
Niska working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Niska throws a shot from downtown. Smash Machine moves away and avoids it.
Smash Machine looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Niska is fending him off so far but Smash Machine persists. Nope, Niska circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Niska wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Niska smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska throws a head kick that half lands.
Niska stuffs the takedown.
Juha Niska has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clinch King Smash Machine.
Smash Machine feints a jab promting Niska to slip. Smash Machine then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Niska slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Smash Machine stuffs the takedown.
Smash Machine takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A big left from Smash Machine misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smash Machine is defended easily by Niska.
Clinch King Smash Machine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Niska leaves Smash Machine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Niska fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Niska stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Niska wants it to stay on the feet.
Niska walks into a left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska connects with a solid leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Niska throws a leg kick but Smash Machine checks it.
Smash Machine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niska keeps the fight on the outside.
Juha Niska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niska lands the left hand.
Smash Machine takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Niska uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smash Machine.
Niska appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Smash Machine moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smash Machine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Niska swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smash Machine tries to clinch up.
Smash Machine takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Smash Machine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smash Machine throws an off balance right hand
and Niska counters with a two punch combo.
Niska throws a right hand that misses
and Smash Machine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Niska showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smash Machine has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Clinch King Smash Machine!
Clinch King Smash Machine made sure to mention his sponsor, Un-Kaged Nutrition in his post fight interview.