PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Curry (ranked 24580 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Joshson (ranked 5747 p4p, 0 weight class). Gary Joshson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Steve Curry's chin.

Curry
vs
Joshson

212 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Curry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gary Joshson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joshson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Curry manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Joshson trying to control the position from guard on top but Curry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joshson throws a big elbow that misses.
Curry is trying to hold Joshson in close to prevent damage but Joshson has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joshson wants to control but Curry is keeping him busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joshson wants to free his trapped foot but Curry is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Curry regains full guard. Nicely done.
Joshson trying to control but Curry is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joshson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Curry really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Curry is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Joshson is controlling him.
Curry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Curry wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Curry utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joshson looking to sit in guard and control but Curry gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Curry decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Curry moves into the clinch successfully.

Joshson breaks the clinch.

Joshson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Curry looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Curry struggling a bit here.
Curry takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Curry is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Joshson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Joshson prefers to stall for the moment though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curry on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry is trying to buck Joshson off.
Joshson tries to advance to mount but Curry denies him.
Curry dodges the ground and pound from Joshson.
Joshson is working Curry over with some ground and pound from side control.
Joshson wants to control but Curry is keeping him busy.

Joshson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Curry rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Joshson's guard! Nice work there by Curry!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joshson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Curry defends well.
Curry postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Curry landing some decent shots from guard.
Curry wants to stand but Joshson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Curry chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Joshson holds on and takes a little breather.
Curry landing some decent shots from guard.
Curry scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Steve Curry will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Joshson swats away the attempt to clinch by Curry.

Joshson looking to score a takedown here. Curry is defending well but Joshson drives through and ends up in Curry's guard.

Curry has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Joshson is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Joshson wants to get back to striking at distance but Curry won't allow it.
Curry is looking to break free of the clinch but Joshson has double underhooks.

Curry is fighting off a takedown attempt but Joshson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Curry to the mat. Curry regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Steve Curry overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Curry had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Joshson defends it easily.
Joshson trying to control the position from guard on top but Curry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curry is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Joshson is controlling him.
Joshson throws a big elbow that misses.
Joshson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Curry works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Joshson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Joshson gets a double leg takedown into Curry's guard.

Curry wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joshson moves into the clinch successfully.
Curry is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Curry as Joshson tries to tie him up.

Joshson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Curry is trying to keep an underhook but Joshson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joshson is trying to control. Curry wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Curry is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Joshson pulls his head out easily.
Joshson controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshson stops Curry from getting back to his feet.

Curry looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Joshson is looking for a kimura here.

Curry is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Joshson pulls his head out easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.

Joshson instigates a clinch.

Joshson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Curry is trying to keep an underhook but Joshson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Curry is staying active underneath Joshson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Joshson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Curry looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Curry is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Joshson pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gary Joshson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Joshson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Curry.

Joshson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Curry breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Curry fails in his attempt to clinch.

Joshson 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.

Curry has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Joshson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Gary Joshson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Curry closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Joshson to the mat! Joshson manages to get full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Curry throws a big elbow that misses.
Joshson is pulling down on Curry's head. It's preventing any offense from Curry, at least for the moment.
Joshson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joshson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joshson controls Curry momentarily but Curry frees himself.

Curry gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Curry darts in trying to clinch
and Joshson counters with a one-two to the body.
Steve Curry is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joshson throws a sloppy head kick and Curry moves out of range easily.
Joshson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Curry's sensitive parts.

Joshson tries to keep at a distance but Curry has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joshson pulls Curry into guard.
Joshson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Curry wanted to stand there but Joshson had control of the position.
Joshson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Curry wants to stand but Joshson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Curry is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Joshson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Curry escapes and throws Joshson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Curry creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joshson is not content to let Curry control the position.
Curry in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Curry connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Joshson some visible discomfort.
Curry scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Joshson to see if he's OK.
Curry landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Curry scoring with punches from side control.

Curry goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Joshson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Curry's guard! Nice work there by Joshson!

Curry is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joshson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Joshson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Curry looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Curry looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Curry!

Curry working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Curry 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.
Joshson is trying to control Curry's posture but Curry avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Curry showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Curry 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Steve Curry!