PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gintaras Joinuskis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AXEL LIMA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Joinuskis
vs
LIMA

179 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gintaras Joinuskis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, AXEL LIMA!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joinuskis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for LIMA!
LIMA is working to get back to half guard.
Joinuskis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
LIMA working to try and regain half guard.
LIMA gets back to half guard.
Joinuskis wants to get back to his feet.
LIMA trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joinuskis trying to control from half guard but LIMA is working away.
LIMA trying to control here.
Joinuskis trying to control the action but LIMA is working from the bottom.
LIMA is holding on to half guard well.
LIMA wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Joinuskis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Joinuskis has closed the distance and engaged LIMA in a clinch.
LIMA tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Joinuskis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

LIMA shoots in and bounces Joinuskis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
LIMA wants to get up but he can't break Joinuskis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Joinuskis had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. LIMA is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Joinuskis Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take LIMA's back instead.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
LIMA wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joinuskis softening up his opponent with strikes here.
LIMA turns into Joinuskis and is now in his guard.
Joinuskis is breathing heavily.
LIMA looking to pass the guard.

Joinuskis scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Joinuskis - that will leave a mark!
LIMA shoots and misses

and Joinuskis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Joinuskis slips a nice elbow through LIMA's hands, connecting with LIMA's forehead.
Joinuskis is keen to just control but LIMA is a slippery customer.
LIMA is looking for a sweep. Joinuskis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
LIMA is trying to stand up here but Joinuskis is controlling him well.
LIMA trying to hold on to Joinuskis's head to control him but Joinuskis postures up.
Joinuskis wants to control but LIMA is keeping him busy.

Joinuskis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Joinuskis working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
LIMA is pressing down on Joinuskis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
LIMA is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
LIMA wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joinuskis keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gintaras Joinuskis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joinuskis 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.
Joinuskis wants to control from the top but LIMA keeps moving.

LIMA is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
LIMA manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Joinuskis manages to get himself to full guard.
Joinuskis 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joinuskis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from LIMA.
Joinuskis is looking to stand up but LIMA isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

LIMA avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

LIMA decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Joinuskis, up you get!

LIMA bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Joinuskis is looking to reverse the position.
Joinuskis is not content to let LIMA control the position.

LIMA working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joinuskis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but LIMA wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

LIMA tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no LIMA has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
LIMA works to advance to full mount. Joinuskis defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

LIMA is working for a guillotine from mount but Joinuskis frees his head quite easily.
Joinuskis tries to hold on but LIMA postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

LIMA working for a guillotine from mount but Joinuskis is in no mood to give up.
AXEL LIMA has got the better of the ground game so far.
LIMA trying to control but he's not successful this time.

LIMA goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Joinuskis is on top in guard.
Joinuskis wants to pass the guard but LIMA is keeping the position.

That's four 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.
LIMA is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
LIMA manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Joinuskis is looking to improve his position but LIMA isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AXEL LIMA showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Joinuskis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. LIMA doesn't seem bothered though.

Joinuskis shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in LIMA's guard.

Joinuskis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Joinuskis feints and as LIMA raises his hands in defense, Joinuskis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joinuskis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
LIMA manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Joinuskis is squirming around, avoiding LIMA's attempts to control the action.
Joinuskis is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LIMA working the ground and pound effectively.

LIMA goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Joinuskis turns into him and now he's in LIMA's guard.
LIMA has a closed guard, preventing Joinuskis from standing up.
LIMA trying to keep a closed guard but Joinuskis is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
LIMA looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
LIMA working a defensive guard here.

LIMA working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Joinuskis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but LIMA is tightening it up a little... Joinuskis has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Joinuskis reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Joinuskis taps out! nice BJJ there by LIMA!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). AXEL LIMA!