PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jex Midnight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naru Jarkko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Midnight
vs
Jarkko

173 cm
26
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

180 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jex Midnight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Naru Jarkko!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Midnight leaves Jarkko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jarkko swinging wildly here.
Midnight throws out a loose jab but Jarkko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Midnight lands a body shot.
Jarkko has a takedown stuffed.
Jarkko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jarkko moves out of range as Midnight strikes.
Jarkko throws a body punch but Midnight moves out of range.
Jarkko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Midnight was well out of range. Poor timing from Jarkko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jarkko fails with a takedown attempt.
Jex Midnight has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Naru Jarkko.
Midnight misses the shot to the body.
Midnight throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Jarkko stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Some wild striking there from Jarkko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarkko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Midnight misses with a body shot.
Jarkko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Midnight.
Jarkko fails to land with a series of punches.
Midnight thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jarkko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Midnight swivels and escapes.
Midnight throws a good cross that connects.
Jarkko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Jarkko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Midnight throws a hook but Jarkko avoids it easily.
Jarkko shoots for a double leg takedown but Midnight sprawls well. He's pushed Jarkko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jarkko looks gassed!
Jarkko looks to land a left hand but Midnight moved out of range nicely.
Midnight misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jarkko.
Midnight misses with a body shot.
Naru Jarkko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A swing and a miss from Midnight.
Jarkko blocks a jab.
Midnight throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jarkko shoots in for a double leg but Midnight sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jarkko moves out of range as Midnight strikes.
Jarkko moves out of range as Midnight strikes.
Midnight misses the shot to the body.
Jarkko shoots in for a takedown but Midnight shows good takedown defense.
Midnight shoots in but Jarkko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No joy there for Jarkko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Midnight uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jarkko.
Midnight scores with the left hand. Jarkko knows he should have avoided that one.
Jarkko with a poor takedown

and Midnight counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Midnight has knee on belly momentarily but Jarkko bucks him off and regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Midnight trying to pass the guard but Jarkko defending well.
Jarkko wants to get back to full guard.
Midnight trying to mount his opponent but Jarkko defends it.
Midnight moves into full mount! Jarkko won't be happy about that!

Midnight looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Midnight looking to secure an arm triangle but Jarkko defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Midnight manages to capitalize on a mistake by Jarkko to take his back!
Good control from Midnight.
Midnight wants to control but Jarkko manages to buck him off and is now in Midnight's guard! Nice work there by Jarkko!
Jarkko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Midnight wants to sweep but no luck.
Jarkko distracts Midnight with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Midnight looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Midnight manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jarkko slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jex Midnight dominated that round.
That's time! Midnight's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Midnight shoots in for a takedown but Jarkko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jarkko fails to land with a series of punches.
Jarkko shoots in and drives through. Midnight sprawls well.

Midnight gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jarkko pushes down on Midnight's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Midnight gets full guard.
Jarkko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Midnight is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jarkko is trying to maintain the position but Midnight is very close to passing his half guard.
Jarkko is breathing heavily.

Midnight is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jarkko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jarkko won't allow Midnight to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Midnight is working for a submission of some sort.
Jarkko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Midnight.

Jarkko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jarkko tries to get to full guard but Midnight has control of the leg.
Midnight is trying to control the action in half guard but Jarkko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Midnight wants to pass the guard but Jarkko is defending well.
Midnight moves into full mount! Jarkko won't be happy about that!
Jarkko is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jarkko holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Midnight tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Midnight swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Jarkko is now in Midnight's guard. A big mistake from Midnight there, giving up the dominant position!
Jarkko won't allow Midnight to sweep him here.
Midnight trying to keep a closed guard but Jarkko is proving a slippery customer.
Jarkko postures up and lands a big shot to Midnight's brow.

Midnight throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Midnight looking for a sweep. Not yet Midnight, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Midnight is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jarkko postures up and lands a big shot to Midnight's brow.
Jarkko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Midnight escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jarkko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jarkko throwing strikes but missing.
Midnight 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.

Midnight working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jarkko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jarkko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Midnight had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jarkko defends it easily.

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.
Jarkko distracts Midnight with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jarkko is working Midnight over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Midnight trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Jarkko landing with the ground and pound.

Jarkko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Jarkko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Jarkko wants to pass the guard but Midnight is keeping the position.
Jarkko distracts Midnight with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jarkko lands a couple of digs.
Jarkko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Midnight has his foot on Jarkko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jarkko works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naru Jarkko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Midnight looks to score with a jab to the body but Jarkko is just out of range.
Jarkko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Midnight counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jarkko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Midnight counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jarkko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Midnight's guard.
Jarkko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jarkko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jarkko preventing the sweep.
Midnight lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jarkko!
Midnight is trying to take his opponent's back.
Jarkko is looking to get to half guard.
Jarkko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Midnight with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarkko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jarkko holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Midnight tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jarkko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Midnight with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Jarkko is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jarkko prevents Midnight from taking his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jarkko is working to get back to half guard.

Midnight looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jarkko is trying to escape the mount.

Jarkko defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Midnight.
Jarkko is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Midnight tries to control but Jarkko wriggling away.
Midnight sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Midnight wants to control the pace but Jarkko is squirming around nicely.
Jarkko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jarkko regains half guard.
Midnight throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jarkko is not content to let Midnight control the position.
Midnight passes the guard and advances to mount!

Midnight is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Jarkko has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko is trying desperately to improve position.

Midnight has hold of Jarkko's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Jarkko manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jarkko tries to lock up and control but Midnight gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Midnight goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Jarkko is on top in guard.
Midnight looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Jarkko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jarkko lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jex Midnight showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Midnight 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jex Midnight!