PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sandro Zito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oskari Jokinen (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.

Zito
vs
Jokinen

186 cm
20
194 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Lone Wolf Fight Gear
recos laboratory

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sandro Zito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oskari Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zito tests Jokinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zito throws an overhand right that lands on Jokinen's shoulder, as Jokinen tries to avoid the shot.
Zito lands a really nice looking cross but Jokinen seems unphased.
Jokinen misses with a low kick.
Jokinen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Zito's hands.
Zito misses with a looping right.
Zito misses with the combination.
A head kick misses from Jokinen.
Jokinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zito.
A right-left combo lands from Zito.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito shoots in for a takedown but Jokinen shows good takedown defense.
Zito blocks a head kick by Jokinen.
Oskari Jokinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jokinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jokinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Zito takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jokinen throws a head kick that misses.
Zito checks the leg kick nicely there.
Zito misses with a hook.
A punch combination from Zito misses.
A head kick misses from Jokinen.
Zito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jokinen manages to avoid it.

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.
Jokinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jokinen tries a low kick but Zito avoids it.
Jokinen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Zito finds it's way round the side to connect with Jokinen's head.
Zito throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jokinen.
Zito blocks a head kick by Jokinen.
Jokinen throws a sloppy head kick and Zito moves out of range easily.
Zito misses with a straight right.
Jokinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zito lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jokinen backs up against the cage.

It looks like Oskari Jokinen has been cut.
Jokinen dodges the punch combination from Zito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zito throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zito blocks a head kick by Jokinen.
Jokinen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Zito throws a right hand that Jokinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Jokinen also avoids with ease.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zito gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Jokinen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zito advances to full mount.
Jokinen can't escape the position.
Zito wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zito moves to the back.
Zito tries to get the hooks in deep but Jokinen pushed the leg off.

Zito looking to break Jokinen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Jokinen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Zito will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Zito is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Jokinen is defending well though. Zito let's go of the attempt for now.
Zito is breathing heavily.

Zito looking for the choke from the back.
Jokinen turns into Zito and is now in his guard.

Zito has his foot on Jokinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jokinen works his way back into a safe position though.
Jokinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zito looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Zito controls Jokinen momentarily but Jokinen frees himself.
Jokinen won't allow Zito to sweep him here.
Zito is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Zito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oskari Jokinen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zito misses with a low kick.
A jab from Zito misses.
Zito misses with a wild body shot.
Zito fails to land with a series of punches.
Zito throws a combination that misses
and Jokinen counters with a thumping low kick.
Zito lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zito throws a low kick but it's checked well by Jokinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zito misses with a head kick.

Zito gets the takedown into side control.
Jokinen is looking to regain half guard here but Zito keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zito working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zito tries to advance to mount but can't.
Jokinen manages to get back to half guard.

Zito is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jokinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Zito.
Jokinen wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jokinen won't allow Zito to pass to mount.

Jokinen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jokinen is breathing heavily.

Zito is working for a submission of some sort.

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.

Zito is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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

Zito is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Jokinen has managed to free his arm - good work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jokinen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Zito scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zito cracks Jokinen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jokinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zito.
Zito throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jokinen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Zito feints and as Jokinen raises his hands in defense, Zito changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zito trying to control but Jokinen is working from the bottom.
Zito has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zito wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zito throws a right hand that Jokinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Jokinen also avoids with ease.
Zito scores with the left hand. Jokinen knows he should have avoided that one.
Zito lands with an uppercut that bounces Jokinen off the cage and back into rage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zito!
Jokinen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zito swings for the body but Jokinen moves out of range.
Zito throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jokinen counters with a big head kick but Zito shrugs it off.
Zito throws a leg kick
and Jokinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sandro Zito is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jokinen avoids the body shot from Zito.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Zito dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Oskari Jokinen'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!

Jokinen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zito looks to land a combination. Jokinen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Zito misses with a head kick.
Zito misses with a looping right.
Zito works over Jokinen's head and body with a nice combination.
Zito fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jokinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sandro Zito is winning the standup battle so far.
Zito misses with a combination
and Jokinen counters with a big head kick but Zito shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Jokinen counters with a nice leg kick.
Jokinen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Zito shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zito showed some decent athleticism there.
Jokinen manages to get to full guard.
Jokinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zito looking to pass the guard.

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

Zito drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Jokinen dives on top into guard.
Jokinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen preventing the sweep.

Jokinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Zito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jokinen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zito manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zito passes to full mount!

Zito has hold of Jokinen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Jokinen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Zito with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zito is working for a guillotine from mount but Jokinen frees his head quite easily.

Jokinen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

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

Zito seems to be working for a kimura but Jokinen defends the submission attempt.
Jokinen is not content to let Zito control the position.
Jokinen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Zito is trying to work for a kimura but Jokinen is defending well.
Jokinen is not content to let Zito control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zito tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jokinen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zito perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Oskari Jokinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zito is tying to control. Jokinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Zito is working for a kimura but Jokinen is defending it quite comfortably.
Zito not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jokinen is refusing to be controlled, as Zito sits in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jokinen misses with a head kick.
Zito throws a right hand that Jokinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Jokinen also avoids with ease.
Zito throws a leg kick
and Jokinen counters with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sandro Zito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zito has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sandro Zito!