PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niila Joikhaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Agapit Blondi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Agapit Blondi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Joikhaaja
vs
Blondi

178 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 11 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niila Joikhaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Agapit Blondi!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joikhaaja 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.
Joikhaaja looking to pass the guard.
Joikhaaja wants to control from the top but Blondi keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joikhaaja controls from within his opponent's guard.

Niila Joikhaaja has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Joikhaaja fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Blondi to the ground. Joikhaaja is now in Blondi's guard.
Joikhaaja with a nice head shot there.

Blondi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Joikhaaja postures up and lands a big shot to Blondi's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja trying to control but Blondi is working from the bottom.
Joikhaaja is really struggling to control Blondi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joikhaaja's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Joikhaaja keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Blondi's head.
Joikhaaja throwing strikes from guard but Blondi blocks nicely.
Joikhaaja missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joikhaaja slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Joikhaaja postures up in Blondi's guard and throws a big left but Blondi blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blondi looking for a sweep. Not yet Blondi, not yet.
Blondi looks winded!
Joikhaaja looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Niila Joikhaaja has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Joikhaaja tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Blondi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Blondi forces Joikhaaja back against the cage and clinches.

Blondi jumps guard and drags Joikhaaja to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Blondi wants to sweep but no luck.
Joikhaaja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blondi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joikhaaja with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Joikhaaja has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Joikhaaja cracks Blondi with a solid left hand.
Joikhaaja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blondi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joikhaaja is looking to work some ground and pound but Blondi has wrist control.
Joikhaaja throws a big right hand that misses.
Blondi is trying to keep Joikhaaja in close.
Blondi 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.
Blondi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joikhaaja throwing strikes from guard but Blondi blocks nicely.
Joikhaaja connects with a couple of short punches.
Joikhaaja throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blondi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blondi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joikhaaja is one step ahead there.
Joikhaaja scoring with punches to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joikhaaja preventing the sweep.
Joikhaaja distracts Blondi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blondi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blondi is defended easily by Joikhaaja.

Joikhaaja scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Joikhaaja is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blondi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Joikhaaja wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Blondi, who protects the arm well.
Joikhaaja passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Blondi!
Blondi is breathing heavily.
Blondi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Joikhaaja connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joikhaaja working for a submission but Blondi is keeping him at bay.
Blondi is looking to improve his position but Joikhaaja isn't that keen on the idea.
Joikhaaja scoring with strikes but Blondi is staying in there.

Joikhaaja is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Blondi has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Joikhaaja raining down hammerfists from mount.
Blondi tries to hold on but Joikhaaja pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja lands a big elbow.
Blondi is in a horrible position here. Joikhaaja smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Joikhaaja lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Joikhaaja with the ground and pound from mount.
Joikhaaja avoids the attempt from Blondi to control.

Joikhaaja swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Blondi is now in Joikhaaja's guard. A big mistake from Joikhaaja there, giving up the dominant position!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joikhaaja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joikhaaja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blondi wants to stand but Joikhaaja is controlling his posture from full guard.

Joikhaaja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blondi doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blondi manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Joikhaaja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Blondi defends it easily.
Blondi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja keeping moving, preventing Blondi from controlling successfully.

Joikhaaja throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Blondi escapes and throws Joikhaaja's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Joikhaaja tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blondi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Blondi is looking to take a break and control but Joikhaaja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blondi lands a decent elbow from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joikhaaja throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niila Joikhaaja dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Blondi shoots for a takedown but Joikhaaja saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Joikhaaja is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Blondi's half guard.
Blondi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Blondi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joikhaaja thows a huge punch but Blondi dodges it nicely.
Joikhaaja prevents Blondi from standing back up.
Joikhaaja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blondi keeps working.

Joikhaaja has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Blondi defend it? Joikhaaja steps over the head and cranks it - Blondi is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Joikhaaja!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Niila Joikhaaja!