PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janne Koivu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

James
vs
Koivu

192 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

202 cm
20
264 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Outkast Clothing Line

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Koivu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James throws a chopping leg kick but Koivu manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
James swinging wildly here.
James dodges the punch combination from Koivu.
Koivu takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Janne Koivu has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James blocks a head kick by Koivu.
James misses with a wild body shot.
James misses with a looping left.
Koivu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Koivu tries to close the distance and clinch up but James swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koivu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koivu shoots and misses
and James counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James misses the shot to the body.
James thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Koivu looking to control.
Koivu looks gassed!
James is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
James wants to control from the top but Koivu keeps moving.
Koivu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.

Jake James has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Koivu gets caught napping as James dives in and scores a takedown. Koivu manages to retain guard.
James looking to pass the guard.
James postures up in Koivu's guard and throws a big left but Koivu blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Koivu is retaining full 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!
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Koivu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jake James.
James throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some wild striking there from James.
Koivu is looking to clinch.
Koivu tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Koivu.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Koivu is defended easily by James.
Jake James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janne Koivu.
Horrible takedown by Koivu or perhaps it was just good defense by James which made him look bad.
Koivu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from James.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Koivu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James throws a nice looking combination but Koivu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
James misses the shot to the body.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Koivu takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Koivu to work.
James taking a breather.
Koivu is trying to maintain a safe position but James gets an underhook and turns Koivu into the cage.
James looking to slow down the pace here.
Koivu tries to circle away but James has him pinned against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maybe James would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Koivu blocks a body shot from James.
James is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Koivu's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
James is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Janne Koivu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koivu.
James throws a hook but Koivu avoids it easily.
James fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Koivu manages to avoid it.
Jake James is winning the standup battle so far.
Koivu tries to clinch but James is having none of it.
James misses with a straight right.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koivu moves away.
James tries to bum rush Koivu with a series of wild strikes but Koivu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koivu doesn't manage to clinch there - James circles away.
Koivu looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Koivu persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.
Koivu avoids a punch combination nicely.
James throws a hook but Koivu avoids it easily.

Koivu gets tackled into the cage by James. James maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivu jumps guard but James stands there with Koivu around his waist. Koivu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koivu.
A short left from Koivu.
Koivu prevents a body shot from James.

James breaks the clinch.
Koivu shoots and misses
and James counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Koivu thinking.
Jake James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janne Koivu.
Koivu is breathing heavily.
Koivu shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from James.
James tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from James misses.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Koivu does a little dance to reset his feet.
James throws out a loose jab but Koivu uses good head movement to avoid it.
James misses the shot to the body.
Koivu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Koivu fails with the takedown.
Koivu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Koivu is trying desperately to land a takedown but James is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Koivu.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koivu moves out of range of the strikes.

James has Koivu up against the cage in a clinch.
James looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koivu tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
James swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Koivu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James misses with a body shot.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Janne Koivu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Koivu does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Koivu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Koivu throws a low kick, looking for James's leg but James calmly moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from James.
Koivu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James looks to land a body kick but Koivu moved away.
Koivu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koivu blocks a low kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivu keeps the fight on the outside.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Koivu's shoulder, as Koivu tries to avoid the shot.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koivu.
James throws a big shot that misses.
James misses with a hook. Koivu ducked under it nicely.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Koivu is just out of range.

Koivu has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James stalling in the clinch but Koivu improves position.

James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Koivu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake James dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Janne Koivu's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

James misses with a hook.
James looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Koivu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jake James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koivu shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Koivu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

James dives in and scores a takedown into Koivu's guard.

James drops back looking for a leg! Koivu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Koivu manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Koivu's guard.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koivu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Koivu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koivu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivu working a defensive guard here.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jake James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jake James wasn't doing enough on the ground.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koivu.
James throws a body punch but Koivu moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from James.
Koivu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Koivu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
James scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koivu blocks a head kick by James.
James misses with a wild body shot.
Koivu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Koivu has his takedown stuffed
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
Jake James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janne Koivu.
Koivu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A punch combination from James misses.
James throws a hook but Koivu avoids it easily.
James misses with a kick to the body.
Koivu dodges the punch combination from James.
James misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James swings for the body but Koivu moves out of range.
Koivu doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
James throws a low kick but it's checked well by Koivu.
James walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Koivu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
James throws a body punch but Koivu moves out of range.
James attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Koivu slips a jab and a cross from James.
James misses with a looping right.
No luck for Koivu with that takedown attempt.
James tries to work over Koivu's front leg with a kick but Koivu checks it.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koivu can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivu slips under a jab.
James throws a body punch but Koivu moves out of range.
James misses with a low kick.
Koivu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
James throws a body punch but Koivu moves out of range.
Koivu moves out of range of the strikes.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James wants to clinch up but Koivu keeps it at a distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James is looking to chop away at Koivu's legs.
James fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Koivu is out of range.
Janne Koivu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jake James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James looks to land a right hand but Koivu moved out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake James!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Jake James made sure he mentioned Outkast Clothing Line, along with how happy he was to win his fight.