PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jokke Nappula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Houston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nappula kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Troggs- Wild Thing. The crowd seem to be enjoying Houston's choice of entrance music: Colour it in. 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.

Nappula
vs
Houston

165 cm
28
151 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

170 cm
30
156 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jokke Nappula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jordan Houston!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nappula throws a low kick but Houston moves out of range easily.
Nappula buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nappula scoring well with a low kick there.
Houston throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nappula counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Houston throws a big shot that misses.
Houston throws a push kick but Nappula slaps the foot to one side.
Nappula leaves Houston with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nappula scores with a leg kick.
Houston takes a swing at Nappula's ribcage but misses.
Nappula connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Nappula.
Nappula misses with a low kick.

Nappula looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Houston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nappula landing some decent shots from guard.
Houston lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nappula!
Nappula holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Houston tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Houston trying to control but Nappula is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houston raining down hammerfists from mount.
Houston can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nappula is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nappula wants to control but Houston is having none of it.
Houston landing shots from mount.
Houston scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The referee warns Nappula that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
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!
Nappula holds on for dear life.
Nappula is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nappula is squirming around, avoiding Houston's attempts to control the action.
Houston unloads with some shots from mount but Nappula bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nappula gets back to half guard.
Nappula is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Houston not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Houston sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nappula defending well though.
Houston not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Houston wants to free his trapped foot but Nappula is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Houston trying to control from half guard but Nappula is working away.
Houston is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nappula makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nappula.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nappula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Houston loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Nappula working for a triangle but Houston defends it easily.
Houston postures up in Nappula's guard and throws a big left but Nappula blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houston slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Houston pushing down on Nappula's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Houston controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jordan Houston will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Houston is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nappula.
Nappula steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Houston.
Nappula throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Houston drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nappula connects with a leg kick. Houston looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nappula tried to score with a low kick but Houston checks it.
Nappula takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Houston throws a combination that misses
and Nappula counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Crunch! Houston slams his shin into Nappula's torso.
Houston throws a looping overhand right but Nappula ducks down to avoid it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nappula.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houston takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nappula.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston throws a leg kick but Nappula sees it coming and moves out of range.
Houston displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nappula throws out the jab.
Nappula displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Houston throws out the jab.
Houston looks for the body kick but Nappula saw that one coming.
A head kick misses from Nappula.
Nappula tried to score with a low kick but Houston checks it.
Jokke Nappula is winning the standup battle so far.
Houston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good standup being displayed there by Nappula as he connects with a hook.
Nappula attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Nappula throws a leg kick but Houston sees it coming and moves out of range.
Houston misses with an uppercut. Nappula saw that one coming.
Nappula avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston connects with a leg kick. Nappula looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jab from Nappula.
Nappula throws a sloppy head kick and Houston moves out of range easily.
Nappula thows a leg kick but Houston checks it
and Houston counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nappula moves forwards but Houston connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Houston checks the leg kick.
Houston thows a left - swing and a miss!
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!
Nappula lands a leg kick that knocks Houston off balance momentarily.
Nappula scores with a nice strike.
Donk. Houston catches Nappula right on the button with a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Houston. Nappula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nappula moves out of range of the strikes.
Nappula avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nappula closes the distance looking to clinch
and Houston counters with a nice low kick that buckles Nappula's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nappula with a lazy takedown attempt
and Houston connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice sprawl there from Nappula as Houston shoots in.
Nice body kick there by Nappula.
Nappula throws a leg kick
and Houston counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Houston takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Houston fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Nappula checks it well.
Houston scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nappula lands with a thumping leg kick.
Houston is breathing heavily.
Nappula misses with a leg kick.
Houston misses the shot to the body.
Nappula keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nappula throws a leg kick which misses Houston's front leg but catches the back leg as Houston tries to avoid it.
Nappula feints and then cracks Houston's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Houston down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nappula wants to slow Houston down by chopping away at his legs.
Houston throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nappula throws a half hearted mid kick.
Houston's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Houston throws a series of punches but Nappula avoids them all with ease.
Nappula throws a head kick that misses.
Houston throws a jab when Nappula was well out of range.
Houston throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nappula fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jokke Nappula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houston looks to throw the jab but Nappula is out of range.
Nappula slips a straight right by Houston.
Houston scores with a nice body kick.
Nappula pivots, looking for a leg kick but Houston is out of range and Nappula settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jokke Nappula will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Houston tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Houston throws a sloppy head kick and Nappula moves out of range easily.

Houston pushes Nappula up against the cage in a clinch.
Houston lands a knee to the body.
Nappula can't break the clinch.
Houston tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Houston's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nappula is looking to control Houston's arms but Houston gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nappula has his back to the cage.
Houston tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nappula misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Nappula on the inside.
Houston has Nappula pressed against the cage.
Houston gets through Nappula's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houston is trying to stall.

Houston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Houston cracks a nice hook into Nappula's ribs.
Nappula tests Houston's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nappula shoots for a double leg takedown but Houston sprawls well. He's pushed Nappula's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nappula moves into range and connects with a jab.
Houston throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nappula counters with a nice low kick that buckles Houston's knee momentarily.
Nappula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Houston takes a swing at Nappula's ribcage but misses.
Houston pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nappula is out of range and Houston settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houston looks to score with a jab to the body but Nappula is just out of range.
Houston jabs Nappula right on the nose. Nappula blinks but takes it well.
Nappula connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nappula.
Houston swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Nappula counters with an inside leg kick.
Houston takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nappula throws a low kick but Houston moves out of range easily.
Nappula swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Houston throws a looping overhand right but Nappula ducks down to avoid it.
Nappula looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Houston connects with a crisp jab.
Nappula scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Houston connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nappula's hands.
A nice leg kick lands there from Nappula.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houston checks a leg kick.
Nappula throws a leg kick which misses Houston's front leg but catches the back leg as Houston tries to avoid it.
Nappula throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nappula feints and then cracks Houston's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Houston down.
Houston throws a hook but Nappula avoids it easily.
Nappula throws a looping overhand right but Houston ducks down to avoid it.
Nappula will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Houston throws a chopping leg kick but Nappula manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Nappula moves out of range of the body kick.
Nappula slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nappula thows a body kick. Houston tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Nappula lands a body shot.

Houston closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nappula's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Houston with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nappula looking to hit a scissor sweep but Houston is one step ahead there.
Nappula manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The referee warns Houston that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nappula stands up from mount. Strange move.
Houston moves out of range as Nappula strikes.
Houston throws a big shot that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jokke Nappula showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nappula has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!