PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nico Oraz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Jenkins (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.

Oraz
vs
Jenkins

178 cm
22
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nico Oraz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Jenkins!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oraz throws a hook but Jenkins avoids it easily.

Jenkins moves into the clinch.

Jenkins pulls guard successfully.
Jenkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jenkins keeping moving, preventing Oraz from controlling successfully.
Oraz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jenkins is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Oraz stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jenkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Oraz.
Some wild striking there from Oraz.
Oraz lands a nice hook to Jenkins's body. Jenkins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Oraz clinches but Jenkins breaks the clinch

and Jenkins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Jenkins pulls guard successfully.
Oraz trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Jenkins manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Jenkins trying to control but Oraz is working from the bottom.
Jenkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jenkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Oraz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jenkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Oraz has wrist control.

Jenkins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Oraz keeping moving, preventing Jenkins from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jenkins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Jenkins thows a big elbow that misses.
Jenkins trying to control but Oraz is working from the bottom.
Jenkins with a flurry of punches that miss.

Oraz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Oraz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oraz keeping moving, preventing Jenkins from controlling successfully.
Jenkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jenkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oraz keeping moving, preventing Jenkins from controlling successfully.
Jenkins showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jenkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Oraz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jenkins landing some decent shots from guard.
Oraz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oraz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oraz wants to clinch but Jenkins slips to the side

and Jenkins counters by clinching up.
Oraz is looking to control Jenkins's arms but Jenkins gets an underhook and turns him. Now Oraz has his back to the cage.
Jenkins has Oraz pressed against the cage, preventing Oraz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

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

Jenkins is trying to trip Oraz. He has hold of a leg but Oraz is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jenkins persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Oraz is breathing heavily.

Oraz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jenkins is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jenkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Jenkins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Jenkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Oraz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jenkins controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Oraz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jenkins's guard.

Oraz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Oraz wants to stand but Jenkins is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tom Jenkins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Oraz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oraz tries to clinch

and Jenkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jenkins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Oraz tries to get to full guard but Jenkins has control of the leg.
Jenkins wants to control but Oraz is keeping him busy.
Jenkins is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Jenkins is working Oraz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Oraz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Oraz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Oraz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jenkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Oraz's head.
Oraz keeping moving, preventing Jenkins from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Oraz swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two 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.

Jenkins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Oraz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Oraz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Oraz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jenkins smiles and moves away.
Jenkins shoots for a double leg takedown but Oraz sprawls well. He's pushed Jenkins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jenkins shoots in and drives through. Oraz sprawls well.
Nico Oraz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Jenkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oraz misses with an uppercut. Jenkins saw that one coming.
Jenkins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Oraz clinches but Jenkins breaks the clinch
and Jenkins counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Oraz thinking.
Oraz tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jenkins counters by clinching up.

Jenkins decides to pull guard.
Oraz preventing the sweep.

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.
Oraz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jenkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Oraz trying to control but Jenkins is working from the bottom.

Jenkins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Oraz wanted to stand there but Jenkins had control of the position.

Oraz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Oraz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Oraz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Jenkins 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! This is the final round!

Oraz tries to clinch but Jenkins moves away
and Jenkins counters with a slapping leg kick.

Jenkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Oraz, pushing him back against the cage.

Jenkins manages to pull guard.
Jenkins lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Oraz!
Jenkins looking to ground and pound but Oraz is blocking nicely.
Jenkins with a couple of short strikes.
Jenkins avoids the attempt from Oraz to control.
Jenkins wants to control the pace but Oraz is squirming around nicely.
Jenkins is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Oraz can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jenkins breaks from Oraz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jenkins throws some wild stikes that Oraz manages to avoid easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jenkins throws some wild stikes that Oraz manages to avoid easily.
Jenkins trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Oraz is trying to escape the mount.
Oraz is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Jenkins sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Jenkins scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jenkins breaks from Oraz's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Jenkins wants to finish this one by submission but Oraz is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Jenkins.
Jenkins landing punches.
Jenkins can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Oraz is looking to escape.
Oraz wants to try and get back to his feet.
Jenkins working Oraz over with strikes here.
Oraz sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Oraz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Jenkins throwing shots but Oraz is blocking nicely.
Jenkins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Oraz taking some punishment here, with Jenkins in his half guard.
Jenkins working Oraz over with strikes.
Oraz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jenkins.
Oraz makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Oraz.

Jenkins drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Oraz dives on top into guard.
Jenkins looking to control but Oraz passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Oraz manages to pass to mount!
Jenkins tries to hold on but Oraz pushes him away.
Jenkins is wriggling around trying to escape.

Oraz is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Jenkins can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Oraz looking to control but Jenkins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Oraz is looking to stand but Oraz has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tom Jenkins.
I've got Jenkins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Jenkins!