PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Possu Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wai Man Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jokinen
vs
Man Li

178 cm
23
167 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
161 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Possu Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wai Man Li!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jokinen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Jokinen slips under a jab.
Jokinen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Li misses with a hook. Jokinen ducked under it nicely.
Jokinen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Li counter with a right hand.
Li takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Jokinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Li counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Li slips a jab from Jokinen.
Li keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Li throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Jokinen to counter with a crisp jab.
Li staying out of range there.
Jokinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Li.
Li uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice combination there by Jokinen.
Li jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jokinen lands with a cross.
Horrible takedown by Jokinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Li which made him look bad.
Jokinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Li loads up on a big right hand but Jokinen slips the punch.
Possu Jokinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Jokinen gets the takedown into side control.
Li is looking to regain half guard here but Jokinen keeps moving and retains side control.
Jokinen working away.
Li is trying to work for a sweep but Jokinen has mounted him!
Jokinen throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Li is looking to improve his position but Jokinen isn't that keen on the idea.
Li in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Jokinen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Li because Jokinen loaded up on that one.
Li is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Li is squirming around, avoiding Jokinen's attempts to control the action.
Jokinen controlling from the full mount.
Jokinen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Li is trying desperately to improve position.
Li wants to control but Jokinen is having none of it.
Jokinen trying to control but Li is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li wants to control but Jokinen is having none of it.
Li is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Li is squirming around, avoiding Jokinen's attempts to control the action.
Li tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Li is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jokinen controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Jokinen holds on and takes a little breather.

Possu Jokinen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Jokinen misses the target.
Jokinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Li.
Li throws the left hand but Jokinen avoids the punch easily.
Jokinen scores with a nice right hand.
Li connects with a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jokinen slips under a jab.
Jokinen looks to throw the jab but Li is out of range.
Li takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Possu Jokinen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Li misses with an uppercut
and Jokinen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Possu Jokinen is winning the standup battle so far.
Jokinen gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Jokinen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Li quickly recovers to half guard.
Li is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jokinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Li is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jokinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jokinen thows a huge punch but Li dodges it nicely.
Li is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Li trying to control but Jokinen postures up.
Jokinen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jokinen wants to take a breather but Li is having none of it.

Jokinen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen trying to mount his opponent but Li defends it.
Li blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jokinen.
Li wants to improve his position but Jokinen is controlling well.

Jokinen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jokinen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Possu Jokinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jokinen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Li defending well though.
Li tries to roll over but Jokinen keeps him under control.
Jokinen is looking to advance position but Li won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Li manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jokinen wants to pass the guard but Li is keeping the position.

Li looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jokinen passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Li is not content to let Jokinen control the position.
Li wants to control but Jokinen is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Li punching from the bottom.
Jokinen not doing much here.
Li manages to get to full guard.
Li wants to sweep but no luck.
Jokinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jokinen throws a big elbow that misses.
Jokinen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen prevents Li from improving his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jokinen connects with a nice short shot to Li's temple.
Li makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Li.
Li looking for a sweep. Not yet Li, not yet.
Li working a defensive guard here.

Li has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Jokinen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Li.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jokinen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Possu Jokinen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jokinen throws a sloppy head kick and Li moves out of range easily.
Jokinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jokinen fails to land with a series of punches.

Li shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Li was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jokinen struggling a bit here.
Li creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jokinen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Jokinen is looking to reverse the position.
Li is trying to ground and pound but Jokinen uses the momentary lack of control by Li to regain half guard.
Li is nestled in close to Jokinen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Li has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Li breaks from Jokinen's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Li goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Jokinen turns into him and now he's in Li's guard.
Jokinen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jokinen throws a big right hand that misses.
Li keeping moving, preventing Jokinen from controlling successfully.

Li had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jokinen defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wai Man Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Li is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Li is trying to keep Jokinen in close.
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!
Jokinen trying to move into half guard but instead Li has managed to sweep!
Jokinen wants to sweep here but Li controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Li from controlling successfully.
Jokinen wants to sweep but no luck.

Li postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Jokinen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Li, into his guard.
Li manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Li looking to ground and pound but Jokinen is blocking nicely.
Jokinen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Li.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen gets back to half guard.
Jokinen tries to get to full guard but Li has control of the leg.
Jokinen wants to control but Li is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Li is working for a kimura but Jokinen is defending it quite comfortably.
Jokinen is trying to control but can't.
Li throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Possu Jokinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Li sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jokinen defending well though.
Jokinen trying to control but Li postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jokinen scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Li manages to mount him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Wai Man Li comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jokinen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

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