PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Soul Makossa (ranked 4661 p4p, 445 weight class) and Henri Jospin (ranked 3447 p4p, 389 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Makossa might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to SOUL MAKOSSA 2.0. Jospin has chosen Clash as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Henri Jospin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Makossa
vs
Jospin

180 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
21
218 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Soul Makossa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Henri Jospin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jospin connects with a solid leg kick.
Makossa blocks a jab.

Makossa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Makossa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Makossa advances nicely into full mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Makossa avoids the attempt from Jospin to control.
Jospin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Makossa.
Jospin is trying desperately to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jospin tries to lock up and control but Makossa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Makossa throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jospin taking shots to the head.
Jospin is looking to improve his position but Makossa isn't that keen on the idea.

Makossa is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Jospin can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Jospin can't escape the position.
Makossa lands a big shot there that rocks Jospin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

It looks like Henri Jospin has been cut.
Poor strikes thrown by Makossa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Makossa punching from mount but Jospin doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jospin can't escape the position.
Makossa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Makossa 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.
Makossa working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Jospin slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Makossa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Makossa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jospin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Makossa.
Makossa is thwarting Jospin's attempts to control the position.

Makossa is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jospin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Makossa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makossa not doing much here.
Makossa slips a nice elbow through Jospin's hands, connecting with Jospin's forehead.
Makossa is stalling here. Jospin is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Makossa seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Jospin has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Makossa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jospin blocks the strikes from Makossa.
Makossa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Makossa struggling a bit here.
Makossa is looking for a sweep.
Jospin laying and praying for a moment but Makossa takes advantage and regains half guard.
Makossa throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Makossa actively working from the bottom here.
Makossa is not content to let Jospin control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Soul Makossa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Henri Jospin's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Makossa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jospin counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Jospin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Makossa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Makossa shoots for a double leg takedown but Jospin sprawls well. He's pushed Makossa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
As Makossa backs off Jospin throws a huge counter combo but Makossa manages to avoid it all.
Makossa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jospin can do to turn this around?
Makossa fails with the takedown
and Jospin counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Soul Makossa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makossa wants to clinch but Jospin slips to the side
and Jospin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jospin feints and then cracks Makossa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Makossa down.
Makossa tries for a takedown but Jospin circles away easily
and Jospin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Soul Makossa has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Jospin as he connects with a hook.
Jospin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Makossa under the eye.
Makossa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jospin counters with a right hand to the body.
Jospin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A shot to the liver by Jospin. Beautiful body shot.
Makossa throws an off balance right hand
enabling Jospin to counter with a crisp jab.
Jospin is looking to slow Makossa down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makossa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Jospin.
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 head kick from Jospin lands but Makossa takes it in his stride.
Jospin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jospin, right into the meat.
Makossa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jospin's waist but Jospin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Makossa off to one side.
Makossa throws a head kick that misses
and Jospin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Makossa thinking.
Makossa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Makossa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Makossa appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Makossa fails with the takedown
and Jospin counters with a series of strikes. Makossa will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makossa tries for a takedown but Jospin circles away easily
and Jospin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Makossa blocks a leg kick.
Jospin throws a combination. Makossa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Soul Makossa's cut is getting worse.

Makossa clinches.
Jospin leaning his opponent against the ropes.

Jospin breaks from the clinch.
Soul Makossa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makossa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jospin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jospin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Jospin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Makossa at a distance.
Jospin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Makossa rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd cheers as Jospin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Makossa doesn't seem phased though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makossa doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jospin counters with a nice body shot.
A head kick from Jospin lands but Makossa takes it in his stride.

Soul Makossa's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Jospin lands with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henri Jospin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Makossa gets a double leg takedown into Jospin's guard.
Makossa trying to control but Jospin is working from the bottom.

Makossa has gone for a leg lock! Jospin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Makossa's guard.

Makossa trying to strike off his back.
Jospin wants to stand but Makossa is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Makossa working for a triangle but Jospin defends it easily.
Makossa trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jospin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jospin looking to pass the guard.
Jospin throws a big elbow that misses.
Makossa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Makossa keeping moving, preventing Jospin from controlling successfully.
Makossa trying to keep a closed guard but Jospin is proving a slippery customer.
Soul Makossa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Makossa wants to sweep but no luck.

Makossa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jospin defends well.

Makossa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Makossa is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Jospin frees his head nicely. Oh but Makossa has switched to an armbar! Jospin is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Soul Makossa!
A victorious Soul Makossa thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.