PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Janathan Ho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Torkylainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ho's entrance music is War Music. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Torkylainen's choice of entrance music: Sky Residents - Krilia. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ho
vs
Torkylainen

185 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 7 - 1

190 cm
25
208 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Janathan Ho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Torkylainen!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Torkylainen drives through and clinches with Ho against the cage.
Ho lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ho blocks an elbow strike from Torkylainen.
Torkylainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Ho has double underhooks.

Ho has hold of one of Torkylainen's legs. Torkylainen is fighting the takedown attempt but Ho gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ho is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

We're going to have a standup here because Janathan Ho wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Torkylainen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Torkylainen fails with an attempt to clinch.

Torkylainen tries to sprawl but Ho drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Torkylainen looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ho blocks the strikes from Torkylainen.
Ho scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Torkylainen is trying to get back to full guard.
Ho looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ho works his foot free and advances to mount.
Torkylainen is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ho takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho trying to control but Torkylainen is having none of it.
Ho tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Torkylainen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ho takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ho has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Janathan Ho wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ho chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Torkylainen can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ho darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ho sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Torkylainen is trying to control but can't.
Ho trying to pass the guard but Torkylainen defending well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ho with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Janathan Ho has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Torkylainen moves in looking to clinch but Ho pushes him off.
Torkylainen fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Torkylainen.
Ho goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Erkki Torkylainen has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ho.
Erkki Torkylainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ho lands a two punch combo.
Ho connects with a high kick.
Torkylainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Torkylainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ho moves into the clinch successfully.
Torkylainen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Ho has hold of one of Torkylainen's legs. Torkylainen is fighting the takedown attempt but Ho gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Torkylainen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ho is one step ahead there.
Torkylainen looks winded!
Torkylainen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janathan Ho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erkki Torkylainen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Torkylainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ho fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Torkylainen avoids it really well and circles away.
Torkylainen wants to clinch but Ho slips to the side

and Ho counters by moving into the clinch.
Ho avoids a wild elbow strike from Torkylainen.
Torkylainen wants to break free but Ho has control.
A frustrated look appears on Torkylainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ho utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Ho manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ho is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ho trying to control the position.
Torkylainen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ho pulls Torkylainen in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Janathan Ho just wasn't active enough.

Ho forces Torkylainen back against the cage and clinches.
Torkylainen throws an elbow but it misses.
Torkylainen looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Ho pulls Torkylainen into guard.
Ho is adopting a defensive guard.
Torkylainen with a nice head shot there.
Torkylainen trying to control but Ho is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Torkylainen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Torkylainen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ho 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.
Torkylainen wants to control from the top but Ho keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho looking for a sweep. Not yet Ho, not yet.
Ho keeping moving, preventing Torkylainen from controlling successfully.

Ho had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Torkylainen defends it easily.
Ho keeping moving, preventing Torkylainen from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Erkki Torkylainen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ho shoots in looking for a takedown. Torkylainen tries to sprawl out of it but Ho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Torkylainen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ho tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torkylainen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ho checks it well.
Ho takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Torkylainen misses with an uppercut. Ho saw that one coming.
Torkylainen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Ho closes the distance and clinches.
Ho stalling.
Ho goes for a takedown in the clinch but Torkylainen prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janathan Ho. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ho is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janathan Ho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erkki Torkylainen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A decent looking cross lands there for Ho.
Torkylainen moves in looking to clinch but Ho pushes him off.
Ho rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Torkylainen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Torkylainen gets a clinch.
Torkylainen tries to land a knee to the head but Ho blocks with his arms.
Torkylainen is trying to stall.

Ho successfully pulls guard.
Ho pulls Torkylainen in close to his closed guard and prevents Torkylainen from doing any damage or advancing position.

Torkylainen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ho manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Torkylainen has Ho in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ho stands up from Torkylainen's guard - Ho perhaps looking for a knockout.

Ho shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ho showed some decent athleticism there.
Ho controlling the action here.

Ho is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ho wants to pass to mount but Torkylainen is defending the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ho in particular looking to stall.
Ho landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Ho stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ho throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Torkylainen.
Torkylainen throws a head kick but Ho moves out of range.
Torkylainen throws a head kick that misses.
Torkylainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Torkylainen misses with a body kick.

Ho shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ho was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee asks Ho politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ho prefers to stall for the moment though.
Ho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Torkylainen keeps working.
Torkylainen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ho controlling from mount.
Torkylainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Erkki Torkylainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ho looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ho prevents Torkylainen from getting the reversal.
Janathan Ho overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ho content just to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Torkylainen is trying desperately to improve position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ho with the ground and pound from mount.
Janathan Ho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ho sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janathan Ho showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ho 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janathan Ho!
A less than humble Janathan Ho misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.