PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamie Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Koivusalo (ranked 0 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.

Richard
vs
Koivusalo

186 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
211 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jamie Richard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Koivusalo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivusalo lands a big shot that drops Richard! Can he finish him?

It looks like Jamie Richard has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Richard is looking for a triangle but Koivusalo pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koivusalo wants to pass the guard but Richard is keeping the position.

Richard had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Koivusalo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Richard Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Koivusalo's back instead.
Koivusalo wants to escape the position.
Koivusalo turns into Richard and is now in his guard.
Koivusalo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Richard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koivusalo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Koivusalo looking to pass the guard.
Koivusalo stands and throws Richard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard is looking for a sweep.
Richard tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Richard tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Richard tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here.
Koivusalo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Richard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Koivusalo off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Richard looking for the RNC.

Richard is looking for the choke from the back position but Koivusalo is controlling his hands well.
Richard is breathing heavily.
Richard is hanging on to Koivusalo's back as he tries to escape.
Koivusalo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Koivusalo tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Koivusalo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Koivusalo defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Richard.
Koivusalo working to try and regain half guard.
Koivusalo tries to lock up and control but Richard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Koivusalo is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo gets back to half guard.
Koivusalo controlling the position for now.
Koivusalo is looking to improve his position.
Koivusalo is trying is best to control the position here.
Koivusalo is trying to control but can't.
Richard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Koivusalo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Richard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Koivusalo gets full guard.
Koivusalo seems keen to control Richard's posture.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jussi Koivusalo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koivusalo shoots in looking for a takedown. Richard tries to sprawl out of it but Koivusalo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Richard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Richard misses with a head kick.

Richard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Koivusalo, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Richard successfully pulls guard.
Koivusalo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Richard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Koivusalo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Koivusalo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jamie Richard's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richard blocks a head kick by Koivusalo.
Richard throws a series of punches but Koivusalo moves out of range.
Koivusalo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Koivusalo throws a head kick that misses.
Richard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richard fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koivusalo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Richard counters with a series of strikes. Koivusalo will be more careful next time no doubt.

Koivusalo rushes Richard and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koivusalo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Koivusalo.
Koivusalo is breathing heavily.
Koivusalo fails with the takedown

and Richard counters with a takedown into side control.
Richard tries to advance to mount but Koivusalo instead regains half guard.
Richard trying to mount his opponent but Koivusalo defends it.
Koivusalo keeping hold of Richard's head, controlling as best he can.
The fighters are battling for position here. Koivusalo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Koivusalo pulls Richard in to control the position.
Richard is working Koivusalo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Koivusalo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Richard stopping the sweep attempt from Koivusalo.
Koivusalo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Koivusalo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Richard tries to free his leg and advance position but Koivusalo is retaining full guard.
Richard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Koivusalo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Richard postures up.
Richard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koivusalo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Koivusalo keeps the fight on the outside.
Koivusalo lands with a kick to the temple. Richard shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Koivusalo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koivusalo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koivusalo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Richard as he jumps to the side.
Jamie Richard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jussi Koivusalo.

Richard shoots in and bounces Koivusalo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard looking to pass the guard.

Richard drops back looking for a leg! Koivusalo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Koivusalo manages to kick Richard off! Richard jumps back into Koivusalo's guard.
Richard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koivusalo is keeping the position for now.
Koivusalo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Koivusalo seems keen to control Richard's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Richard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jamie Richard's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Koivusalo throws a head kick but Richard moves out of range.
Koivusalo lands a head kick!
Richard avoids the head kick by Koivusalo.

Richard pushes Koivusalo up against the cage in a clinch.
Koivusalo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Koivusalo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koivusalo tries a head kick but it misses.
Richard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koivusalo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richard tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivusalo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Richard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Koivusalo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koivusalo misses with a head kick.
Richard looks to clinch

and Koivusalo moves into the clinch.

Koivusalo tightens his grip and picks Richard up, before dumping him to the ground. Richard manages to land in guard.
Koivusalo looking to pass the guard.

Koivusalo is sitting in close to Richard's body. Richard has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Koivusalo is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Koivusalo is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Richard.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jamie Richard!