PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorma Kovanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mocha Latte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Latte has chosen Vauvan teko homma as his entrance music. 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.

Kovanen
vs
Latte

182 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorma Kovanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mocha Latte!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Latte circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kovanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kovanen throws a head kick but Latte moves out of range.
Kovanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Latte swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Latte manages to avoid it.
Jorma Kovanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovanen slips under a jab from Latte.
A head kick misses from Kovanen.
Latte avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Kovanen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Latte throws a body punch but Kovanen moves out of range.
Latte scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kovanen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Latte is having none of it.
Latte waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kovanen.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses.

Latte shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kovanen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Latte wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kovanen keeps working.
Kovanen wants to get back to his feet but Latte drags him back down.

Latte is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kovanen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kovanen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Latte is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kovanen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kovanen tries to escape but Latte is in control.
Latte tries to move to mount but Kovanen blocks the move with his legs.
Latte taking a breather here.
Latte is looking to take a break and control but Kovanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kovanen tries to escape but Latte is in control.
Kovanen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Latte misses with a wild body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kovanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice takedown defense from Kovanen. No joy for Latte on that attempt.
Latte takes a swing at Kovanen's ribcage but misses.
Kovanen misses with a two punch combination.
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Latte circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Kovanen. That snapped Latte's head back.
Kovanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Latte swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kovanen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Latte avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Latte takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Latte looks gassed!
Kovanen connects with a nice looking jab.

Kovanen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kovanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kovanen obliges.

Kovanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen throws a body punch but Latte moves out of range.
Latte on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kovanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Latte moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovanen throws a predictable looking body shot

so Latte counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kovanen working for submissions but it's allowed Latte to get to half guard.
Latte prevents Kovanen from improving his position.
Kovanen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Latte.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Latte trying to control the pace.

Kovanen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Latte pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Latte keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen is looking to escape.
Kovanen wants to improve his position but Latte is controlling well.
Latte trying to control the action but Kovanen is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Latte throws a jab when Kovanen was well out of range.
Latte moves away from the strike by Kovanen.
Latte fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kovanen avoids it really well and circles away.
Jorma Kovanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kovanen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Latte counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Latte lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice straight punches there by Latte. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Latte.
Latte lands with a nice body punch.
Kovanen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Latte connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kovanen lands a head kick. Latte smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
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 Jorma Kovanen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kovanen lands a high kick!
Kovanen misses with a head kick.
Latte fails with the takedown.
Kovanen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Latte counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kovanen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Mocha Latte has been cut.
Latte throws a jab when Kovanen was well out of range.
Jorma Kovanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovanen misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick by Kovanen misses

and Latte counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!

Latte is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kovanen sees it coming and defends easily.
Kovanen is trying to stand up here but Latte is controlling him well.

Kovanen has one foot on Latte's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kovanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovanen clinches but Latte breaks the clinch

and Latte counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kovanen won't be happy with that.
Latte works to advance to full mount. Kovanen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovanen is desperately trying to improve his position but Latte has a good base and remains in mount.

Latte is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Latte extends the arm and Kovanen is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mocha Latte!