PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sepi Kumpulainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Onni Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jokinen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dub FX - Rude Boy kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kumpulainen
vs
Jokinen

172 cm
29
143 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

175 cm
22
159 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
M/S Paint Fightwear **Laundry service**

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sepi Kumpulainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Onni Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Kumpulainen with that takedown attempt.

Jokinen tries to sprawl but Kumpulainen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Jokinen pushes Kumpulainen off looking to stand but Kumpulainen dives back in and keeps control.
Kumpulainen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jokinen tries to get to full guard but Kumpulainen has control of the leg.

Kumpulainen wants to work for an arm triangle but Jokinen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kumpulainen is pressing down on Jokinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jokinen is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kumpulainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen tries to pass to full mount but Jokinen defends it.

Kumpulainen is working for a submission of some sort.
Jokinen is trying to get back to full guard.
Kumpulainen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kumpulainen working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Jokinen's thigh. Jokinen counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Kumpulainen from controlling successfully.

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.
Kumpulainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jokinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kumpulainen wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Kumpulainen from controlling successfully.
Kumpulainen 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.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Sepi Kumpulainen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kumpulainen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jokinen circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen has his takedown stuffed
letting Jokinen counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepi Kumpulainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kumpulainen shoots for a takedown but Jokinen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kumpulainen shoots and misses
and Jokinen counters with a three punch combo that has Kumpulainen backing up. Kumpulainen nods at Jokinen to acknowledge the strikes.
Kumpulainen with a poor takedown
and Jokinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kumpulainen has his takedown stuffed
and Jokinen counters with a head kick. That will keep Kumpulainen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Some wild striking there from Jokinen.
Kumpulainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jokinen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kumpulainen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jokinen to the ground. Kumpulainen is now in Jokinen's guard.
Kumpulainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kumpulainen advances to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kumpulainen throwing shots but Jokinen is blocking nicely.
Kumpulainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jokinen keeps working.

Kumpulainen is working for a submission of some sort.
Kumpulainen content to control rather than advance.
Jokinen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Onni Jokinen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kumpulainen looks to clinch
and Jokinen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen circles away easily
and Kumpulainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kumpulainen misses with a takedown attempt
and Jokinen counters with an outside leg kick.
Jokinen misses with a low kick.
Jokinen missing with a left hand there. Kumpulainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kumpulainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jokinen counters with a good low kick that Kumpulainen was not able to check.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepi Kumpulainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kumpulainen shoots and misses
and Jokinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kumpulainen doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Jokinen to counter with a crisp jab.
Kumpulainen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch there but Jokinen circles away.
Kumpulainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jokinen counters with a nice uppercut.
Jokinen lands a jab.
Kumpulainen with a poor takedown
and Jokinen counters with a nice kick to the body.
Jokinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kumpulainen avoids the body shot from Jokinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen scores with a shot to the body.
Onni Jokinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen circles away easily
and Jokinen counters with a head kick.
Sepi Kumpulainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen circles away easily
and Jokinen counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jokinen looks for the body kick but Kumpulainen saw that one coming.
Kumpulainen tries to clinch
and Jokinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kumpulainen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kumpulainen moves in looking to clinch but Jokinen pushes him off.
Onni Jokinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jokinen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen stuffs the takedown.
Jokinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Kumpulainen.
Kumpulainen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jokinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good exchange - Jokinen coming out on top.
Jokinen connects with a high kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jokinen, right into the meat.
Kumpulainen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jokinen is fending him off so far but Kumpulainen persists. Nope, Jokinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Kumpulainen moves out of range of the body kick.
Jokinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jokinen wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen circles away easily
and Jokinen counters with a good, hard body kick but Kumpulainen shrugs it off.
Kumpulainen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kumpulainen with a poor takedown
and Jokinen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kumpulainen thinking.
Kumpulainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Jokinen counters with a nice leg kick.
Kumpulainen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Jokinen counters with an outside leg kick.
Kumpulainen misses the shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kumpulainen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kumpulainen misses with a takedown attempt
and Jokinen counters with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Onni Jokinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jokinen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Jokinen throws a wild body kick that Kumpulainen sees coming a mile off.
Kumpulainen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A big left from Jokinen misses.
Kumpulainen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jokinen is fending him off so far but Kumpulainen persists. Nope, Jokinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Kumpulainen lands a jab.
Kumpulainen misses with a takedown attempt
and Jokinen makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kumpulainen really felt that one!
Jokinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Kumpulainen is just out of range.
Kumpulainen shoots and misses
and Jokinen counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sepi Kumpulainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kumpulainen misses with a takedown
and Jokinen counters with a low kick, right behind Kumpulainen 's knee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jokinen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Jokinen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kumpulainen fails with the takedown
and Jokinen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kumpulainen has his takedown stuffed
and Jokinen counters with a stiff right hand.
Kumpulainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jokinen counters with a good, hard body kick but Kumpulainen shrugs it off.
Kumpulainen wants to clinch but Jokinen slips to the side
and Jokinen counters with a nice leg kick.
Onni Jokinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen fails with the takedown
and Jokinen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kumpulainen's knee momentarily.
Kumpulainen misses with a takedown
and Jokinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jokinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kumpulainen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen circles away easily
and Jokinen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kumpulainen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kumpulainen shoots in but Jokinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jokinen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen wants to clinch but Jokinen slips to the side
and Jokinen counters with a head kick. That will keep Kumpulainen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Kumpulainen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jokinen wants to stand and escape but Kumpulainen is having none of it.
Jokinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kumpulainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kumpulainen controlling from the top position.
Jokinen wants to stand up but Kumpulainen is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Sepi Kumpulainen just wasn't active enough.
Kumpulainen tries for a takedown but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sepi Kumpulainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jokinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Kumpulainen misses with a takedown
and Jokinen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kumpulainen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jokinen tries to avoid it but Kumpulainen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jokinen to the ground. Jokinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Jokinen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Onni Jokinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jokinen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Onni Jokinen!