PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olli Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jokinen has chosen Prodigy - Poison as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Givens
vs
Jokinen

187 cm
31
195 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

183 cm
38
185 lbs
39 - 20 - 2

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

DJs Locker

Perkele!

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 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Raylan Givens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 20 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Olli Jokinen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Givens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick by Jokinen misses

so Givens counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Givens stopping the sweep attempt from Jokinen.
Jokinen has his hands on Givens's head, controlling the position.
Givens wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Givens won't allow Jokinen to sweep him here.
Givens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jokinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jokinen looking for a sweep. Not yet Jokinen, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Givens throws a head kick that misses
and Jokinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A left lands for Jokinen.
Jokinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Givens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Givens moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jokinen throws a push kick but Givens slaps the foot to one side.

Givens closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Givens lands in his opponent's guard.
Jokinen 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.
Jokinen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Givens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jokinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Givens from controlling successfully.
Givens wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
Jokinen seems keen to control Givens's posture.
Jokinen can't keep his opponent in guard - Givens advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Givens is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Givens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Givens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jokinen is doing well to control the position and prevent Givens from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens looks to land a strike but Jokinen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Givens throws a big elbow that misses.
Givens passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Jokinen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Jokinen tries to roll over but Givens keeps him under control.
Givens missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Givens trying to mount his opponent but Jokinen defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jokinen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Givens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jokinen 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.
Givens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jokinen's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jokinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jokinen trying to control the position here.
Jokinen 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Givens cracks Jokinen with a solid left hand.
Givens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Givens passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jokinen enables Givens to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jokinen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Givens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jokinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Givens wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Jokinen pulls Givens in to control the position.
Givens passes Jokinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Jokinen is looking to control Givens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jokinen avoid being mounted?
Givens missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jokinen controlling the position well.
Givens working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Jokinen's thigh. Jokinen counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Givens in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Givens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Givens wants to control from the top but Jokinen keeps moving.
Givens stays in close to Jokinen's body and controls the position.
Jokinen trying to control the position.
Givens wants to pass the guard but Jokinen is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Givens's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens tries to free his leg and advance position but Jokinen is retaining full guard.
Jokinen 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.
Givens stands up over Jokinen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Givens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Givens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Jokinen pulls Givens in close to his closed guard and prevents Givens from doing any damage or advancing position.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Jokinen has wrist control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jokinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Givens.
Raylan Givens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Givens looking to pass the guard.
Jokinen looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Givens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jokinen pulls Givens in to control the position.
Jokinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Givens.
Givens with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jokinen is trying to control the position but Givens postures up.
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Givens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jokinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Givens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jokinen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Givens trying to control the position from guard on top but Jokinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens throws a big elbow that misses.
Jokinen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jokinen prevents Givens from improving his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Givens is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jokinen pulls his head out easily.

Givens looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jokinen swings for the body but Givens moves out of range.
A big right from Jokinen misses.
Givens attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Givens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jokinen throws a hook but Givens blocks it.
Jokinen throws a nice head kick!
Jokinen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Givens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jokinen sprawls well. Jokinen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Givens gets slowly back to his feet.
Givens fails to land with a series of punches.
Jokinen throws a poor cross that misses
and Givens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Givens. Jokinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Givens throws a lazy right hand but Jokinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Givens just misses with a punch to the body.
Givens throws a right hand that misses
and Jokinen counters with a leg kick.
Givens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jokinen.
Givens has a takedown stuffed.
Givens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Jokinen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Givens.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jokinen, right into the meat.
Jokinen tries to land a front kick but Givens steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Olli Jokinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens throws a sloppy head kick and Jokinen moves out of range easily.
Givens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jokinen.
Jokinen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Raylan Givens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Givens shoots in looking for a takedown. Jokinen tries to sprawl out of it but Givens keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jokinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Givens blocks the body kick.
Givens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Givens shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jokinen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Givens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jokinen managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Givens is looking to work some ground and pound but Jokinen has wrist control.
Givens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jokinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Givens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raylan Givens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jokinen has Givens pulled in close to control his posture.
Jokinen keeping moving, preventing Givens from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Jokinen holds on and takes a little breather.
Jokinen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Givens controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Olli Jokinen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jokinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Donk. Givens catches Jokinen right on the button with a cross.
Givens looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Givens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Givens dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jokinen. That did some damage!
Givens scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jokinen misses with a wild combination.
Jokinen stuffs the takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen slips under a jab from Givens.
Olli Jokinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Givens scores with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raylan Givens.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Givens, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raylan Givens!
During a confident post fight interview, Raylan Givens thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.