PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Jokinen Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilia Nazarkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jokinen Jr
vs
Nazarkin

173 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Jokinen Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilia Nazarkin!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen Jr looks for a takedown but Nazarkin sprawls well.
Jokinen Jr shoots in for a takedown but Nazarkin shows good takedown defense.
Jokinen Jr shoots for a double leg takedown but Nazarkin sprawls well. He's pushed Jokinen Jr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Jokinen Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nazarkin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jokinen Jr's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nazarkin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen Jr tries to kick Nazarkin off but Nazarkin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jokinen Jr is breathing heavily.
Nazarkin tries to pass to full mount but Jokinen Jr defends it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jokinen Jr shoots in for a double leg but Nazarkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas Jokinen Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nazarkin shoots in and bounces Jokinen Jr off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nazarkin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jokinen Jr's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarkin controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thomas Jokinen Jr just wasn't active enough.

Nazarkin looking to score a takedown here. Jokinen Jr is defending well but Nazarkin drives through and ends up in Jokinen Jr's guard.
Jokinen Jr wants to get back to his feet but Nazarkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Nazarkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jokinen Jr is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Thomas Jokinen Jr just wasn't active enough.
Jokinen Jr ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jokinen Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Jokinen Jr looks for a takedown but Nazarkin sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilia Nazarkin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nazarkin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jokinen Jr looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Jokinen Jr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nazarkin is controlling Jokinen Jr's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jokinen Jr is working for a kimura but Nazarkin is defending it quite comfortably.

Jokinen Jr seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Nazarkin has recovered full guard.
Nazarkin seems keen to control Jokinen Jr's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nazarkin can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nazarkin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jokinen Jr's guard.
Nazarkin looking to pass the guard.
Jokinen Jr could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ilia Nazarkin.
Nazarkin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jokinen Jr defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarkin shoots in for a double leg but Jokinen Jr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Nazarkin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jokinen Jr is trying to stand up here but Nazarkin is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarkin wants to pass to mount but Jokinen Jr is defending the position.
Nazarkin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nazarkin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilia Nazarkin 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!

Nazarkin shoots in but Jokinen Jr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A combination from Jokinen Jr does no damage.

Nazarkin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jokinen Jr to the mat! Jokinen Jr manages to get full guard.
Jokinen Jr keeping full guard, as Nazarkin tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nazarkin controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Thomas Jokinen Jr.
Nazarkin misses with a double jab.

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

Nazarkin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nazarkin controlling the action here.
Nazarkin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ilia Nazarkin.
Nazarkin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

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.
Jokinen Jr shoots in for a takedown but Nazarkin shows good takedown defense.
Jokinen Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Nazarkin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jokinen Jr as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilia Nazarkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nazarkin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilia Nazarkin!