PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Jalkalukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Lippencot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jalkalukko comes to the cage accompanied by Jordan Sparks ft. Chris Brown - No Air . 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.

Jalkalukko
vs
Lippencot

190 cm
21
200 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

178 cm
24
199 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse Jalkalukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Hans Lippencot!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jalkalukko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lippencot's waist but Lippencot gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jalkalukko off to one side.
Lippencot throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Jalkalukko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jalkalukko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lippencot gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Jalkalukko drags the fight down to the ground.
Jalkalukko is pulling down on Lippencot's head. It's preventing any offense from Lippencot, at least for the moment.
Jalkalukko wants to sweep here but Lippencot controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jalkalukko trying to control the position.
Lippencot controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalkalukko is trying to control the position but Lippencot postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lippencot stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lippencot wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Jalkalukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lippencot thows a leg kick but Jalkalukko checks it

so Jalkalukko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lippencot is pulling down on Jalkalukko's head. It's preventing any offense from Jalkalukko, at least for the moment.
Jalkalukko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Lippencot tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lippencot is pulling down on Jalkalukko's head to control his posture.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jalkalukko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lippencot misses with a right hand

so Jalkalukko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jalkalukko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lippencot tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jalkalukko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lippencot keeping full guard, as Jalkalukko tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Lippencot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jesse Jalkalukko wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lippencot throws a sloppy head kick
and Jalkalukko counters with an outside leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jalkalukko is defended easily by Lippencot.
Jalkalukko blocks a leg kick.
A low kick from Lippencot is predictable there

and Jalkalukko counters with a single leg into guard. Lippencot didn't expect that.
Jalkalukko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jalkalukko passes Lippencot's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Jalkalukko wants to control but Lippencot is keeping him busy.
Jalkalukko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jalkalukko trying to control from half guard but Lippencot is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lippencot keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Jalkalukko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jesse Jalkalukko wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Lippencot works over Jalkalukko's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lippencot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Jalkalukko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jalkalukko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Jalkalukko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lippencot throws a leg kick but Jalkalukko sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jalkalukko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lippencot.
Jalkalukko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lippencot.
Lippencot throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lippencot throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Jalkalukko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jalkalukko.
Jalkalukko looking to pass the guard.
Lippencot can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jalkalukko controls the pace.
Lippencot wants to sweep but no luck.
Lippencot can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jalkalukko controls the pace.
Jesse Jalkalukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Jalkalukko seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lippencot for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lippencot working a defensive guard here.

Jesse Jalkalukko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jalkalukko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lippencot sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jalkalukko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lippencot circles away.
Lippencot rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Jalkalukko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jalkalukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lippencot swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Jalkalukko 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.
Lippencot trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lippencot keeping moving, preventing Jalkalukko from controlling successfully.
Lippencot bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jalkalukko's guard.
Lippencot controls from within his opponent's guard.
Jalkalukko looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good work by Lippencot as he checks the leg kick.
Lippencot keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lippencot throws a sloppy head kick
and Jalkalukko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jalkalukko wants to clinch up but Lippencot keeps it at a distance.
Lippencot throws out a loose jab but Jalkalukko uses good head movement to avoid it.

Jalkalukko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lippencot trying to keep a closed guard but Jalkalukko is proving a slippery customer.
Jalkalukko sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jalkalukko's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lippencot misses with a low kick.
Jalkalukko checks the leg kick nicely there.
No joy there for Lippencot, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jalkalukko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lippencot misses with a head kick.
Jalkalukko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lippencot swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Jalkalukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jalkalukko is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jalkalukko tries to close the distance and clinch but Lippencot swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jalkalukko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lippencot misses with a wild combination.
Lippencot throws a head kick that Jalkalukko semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Jalkalukko dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lippencot stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lippencot wants it to stay on the feet.
Lippencot throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Jalkalukko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lippencot to the mat! Lippencot manages to get full guard.
Lippencot is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jalkalukko controlling from the top position.
Jalkalukko pushing down on Lippencot's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lippencot is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lippencot wants to control but Jalkalukko is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalkalukko works his way into side control.
Lippencot gets back to half guard.
Jalkalukko controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jalkalukko is trying to control. Lippencot wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lippencot is trying to get back to full guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Jesse Jalkalukko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jalkalukko slips under a jab from Lippencot.
Lippencot throws a head kick but Jalkalukko moves out of range.
Lippencot will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jalkalukko shoots in for a takedown but Lippencot shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Lippencot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lippencot tries a head kick but it misses.
Lippencot throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jalkalukko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lippencot but Lippencot pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Jalkalukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lippencot throws a lazy uppercut

and Jalkalukko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jalkalukko.

Jalkalukko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lippencot keeping moving, preventing Jalkalukko from controlling successfully.
Lippencot tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lippencot keeping full guard, as Jalkalukko tries to pass.
Jalkalukko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jalkalukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Lippencot is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Jalkalukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lippencot swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jesse Jalkalukko wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jalkalukko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hans Lippencot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lippencot waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jalkalukko.
Lippencot motions for Jalkalukko to come forward. Lippencot throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lippencot wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Jalkalukko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lippencot tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Jalkalukko is in Lippencot's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lippencot looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jalkalukko passes into half guard.
Jesse Jalkalukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Still in half guard, Jalkalukko seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesse Jalkalukko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jalkalukko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Jalkalukko!