PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Henrik Balter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morten Joikhaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morten Joikhaaja is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Balter
vs
Joikhaaja

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

173 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Henrik Balter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Morten Joikhaaja!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Saam Ante and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balter throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balter looks to land a combination but Joikhaaja avoids it well.
Balter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Joikhaaja closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Balter quickly recovers to half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Joikhaaja is taking a breather. Balter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Joikhaaja throwing shots but Balter is blocking nicely.
Joikhaaja slows the pace down in half guard.
Joikhaaja working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Joikhaaja lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Joikhaaja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Joikhaaja looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joikhaaja is nestled in close to Balter, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Balter wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Joikhaaja lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Joikhaaja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joikhaaja content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Joikhaaja's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joikhaaja takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Joikhaaja controlling the action here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Morten Joikhaaja wasn't active enough on the ground.
Balter misses with a low kick.
A combination from Balter does no damage.

Joikhaaja drives through with a takedown into guard.
Joikhaaja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joikhaaja's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joikhaaja is working Balter over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joikhaaja wants to pass the guard but Balter is keeping the position.
Joikhaaja controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Balter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Joikhaaja works over Balter with some ground and pound from guard.
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.
Balter is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Joikhaaja throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Balter was covering up waiting for the punch and Joikhaaja finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja connects with a couple of short punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joikhaaja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joikhaaja controlling from the top position.
Balter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joikhaaja on the ground.
Joikhaaja postures up in Balter's guard and throws a big left but Balter blocks it.
Joikhaaja throws a big right hand that misses.
Joikhaaja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joikhaaja is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morten Joikhaaja dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Balter pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Balter misses the shot to the body.
Balter tries to bum rush Joikhaaja with a series of wild strikes but Joikhaaja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balter misses with a double jab.
Nice sprawl there from Joikhaaja as Balter shoots in.
Henrik Balter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balter throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joikhaaja.
Balter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joikhaaja.
Balter thows a body shot but no joy.
Balter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Joikhaaja shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Joikhaaja's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Joikhaaja is working Balter over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Joikhaaja postures up in Balter's guard and throws a big left but Balter blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Morten Joikhaaja.
Balter tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joikhaaja sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Balter somewhat.
Joikhaaja avoids the body shot from Balter.

Joikhaaja shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Balter napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Joikhaaja in side control lands a decent elbow.
Balter takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Joikhaaja working the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joikhaaja controls the position.
Morten Joikhaaja has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja landing strikes.
Joikhaaja advances nicely into full mount.
Balter is bucking up trying to escape but Joikhaaja cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Balter is rocked!
Joikhaaja raining down hammerfists from mount.
Oh Balter is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Joikhaaja postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Balter bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Joikhaaja and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Morten Joikhaaja!