PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between William Reeves (ranked 3157 p4p, 3374 weight class) and Juha Niska (ranked 436 p4p, 458 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reeves
vs
Niska

203 cm
27
217
10 - 22 - 0

193 cm
36
212
24 - 18 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Voodoo Nutrition

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 10 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, William Reeves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reeves throws a push kick but Niska slaps the foot to one side.
Reeves shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And Niska responds with a good body kick, but Reeves manages to step out the way in time.
Reeves with a poor takedown
and Niska counters with a thumping low kick.

Niska instigates a clinch.
Niska stalls.
Niska stalling the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Niska manages to break the clinch.
Reeves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Niska counters with a slapping leg kick.
Niska digs a good hook to Reeves's body.
Donk. Niska catches Reeves right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reeves tries to keep at a distance but Niska has taken the fight into the clinch.
Reeves has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Niska stalling.
Niska working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Niska using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niska is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Reeves takes a shot to the head.
Niska drops down looking for an ankle pick but Reeves pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reeves throws a right hand that misses
and Niska makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Some wild striking there from Reeves.
Niska doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Niska lands a right hook to the body.
A leg kick checked by Niska.
Reeves swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Niska counters with a good, hard body kick but Reeves shrugs it off.

Reeves tries to keep at a distance but Niska has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Niska has Reeves pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Reeves up against the cage.
Come on Niska - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The referee calls for Niska to work.
Niska stalling in the clinch.
Niska continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Juha Niska.
Good leg kick by Niska.
Reeves with a lazy takedown attempt
and Niska counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Reeves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reeves shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Niska counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Niska throws a series of punches but Reeves avoids them all with ease.
Reeves doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Niska counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niska's corner calls for a 1-2. Niska obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Niska.

Niska pushes Reeves up against the cage in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Niska dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Niska takes the fight into the clinch.
Niska avoiding damage.
Niska has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Niska pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reeves throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Niska counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Niska defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reeves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reeves fails with the takedown

and Niska counters by moving into the clinch.
Niska is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska slowing the pace effectively.
Niska receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Niska misses with a knee to the head.
Niska pressing his opponent against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Niska.
Reeves letting Niska take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Juha Niska.
Reeves misses with a shot to the body
and Niska counters with a thumping low kick.
William Reeves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reeves throws a leg kick that is checked
and Niska counters with a three punch combo that has Reeves backing up. Reeves nods at Niska to acknowledge the strikes.
Reeves shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Reeves. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niska scores with a jab. Reeves acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Reeves with a lazy takedown attempt
and Niska counters with a right hand to the body.
Reeves takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Niska scores with a shot to the body.
Niska lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Niska's coach down at Sparks gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Niska's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Reeves has his takedown stuffed
and Niska counters with a nice uppercut.
Reeves tries to work over Niska's front leg with a kick but Niska checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reeves throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Niska moves into the clinch.
Niska will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Reeves up against the cage.
Niska scores with a nice hook to the head.

Niska breaks the clinch.

Reeves gets tackled into the cage by Niska. Niska maintains the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Niska.
A nice left hand lands by Niska.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska leaning against his opponent.
Juha Niska seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niska stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Niska pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Reeves throws a combination that misses
and Niska cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Niska is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Reeves rather than just go for the knockout.
Reeves throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Niska.
Niska lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reeves swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Niska counters with a stiff right hand.
Reeves misses with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Niska showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Reeves takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Reeves misses with a takedown attempt
and Niska connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Reeves misses with a double jab
and Niska counters with a three punch combo that has Reeves backing up. Reeves nods at Niska to acknowledge the strikes.

Reeves is rocked!

Niska closes the distance and clinches.
Niska makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Oh Reeves is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Niska taking a breather.
Reeves takes a knee to the side of the body.
Niska taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Niska avoiding damage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A bit of stalling here from Niska.
Reeves seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Juha Niska.
Reeves misses with a double jab
and Niska counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Reeves thinking.
Reeves on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Niska looking to score a takedown here. Reeves is defending well but Niska drives through and ends up in Reeves's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Reeves throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Reeves seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Niska looking to pass the guard.
Niska is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Niska slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reeves won't allow Niska to pass to mount.
Still in half guard, Niska seems content to control.
Niska is pressing down on Reeves's thigh, looking to free his foot. Reeves is holding on for now.
Niska is thwarting Reeves's attempts to control the position.
Reeves is looking to improve his position.
Reeves is in trouble now - Niska has advanced to mount!
Niska controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska prevents Reeves from getting the reversal.
Reeves is working hard here to advance position.
Reeves is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Niska controlling his opponent.
Reeves tries to lock up and control but Niska gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
William Reeves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Reeves in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reeves is looking to improve his position but Niska isn't that keen on the idea.
Niska content just to control the position here.
Juha Niska is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reeves srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Niska is hanging on to Reeves's back as he tries to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niska slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
You can see the frustration on Reeves's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Niska comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Niska has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juha Niska!
A less than humble Juha Niska misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.