PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Orpo Jokinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Bessmertin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jokinen
vs
Bessmertin

175 cm
24
180 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

189 cm
24
183 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Orpo Jokinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Bessmertin!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Jokinen misses its intended target.
Bessmertin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jokinen, right into the meat.
Bessmertin lands with an uppercut that bounces Jokinen off the cage and back into range.

Jokinen gets caught flat footed, as Bessmertin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
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.
Bessmertin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jokinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jokinen wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Jokinen pulls Bessmertin in close to his closed guard and prevents Bessmertin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jokinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Orpo Jokinen just wasn't active enough.

Bessmertin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bessmertin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jokinen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jokinen actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bessmertin content to control rather than advance.

Jokinen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bessmertin trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is looking to control Bessmertin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jokinen avoid being mounted?
Bessmertin passes to side control.
Check out the look on Bessmertin's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jokinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jokinen seems a little lost for a moment, as Bessmertin dominates the positioning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jokinen is looking for a sweep.
Bessmertin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Bessmertin dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bessmertin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jokinen.
Bessmertin throws a looping overhand right but Jokinen ducks down to avoid it.
Jokinen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jokinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bessmertin throws out the jab.
Bessmertin gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bessmertin throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bessmertin scores with a nice strike.
Bessmertin is looking to chop away at Jokinen's legs.
Artem Bessmertin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jokinen throws a body punch but Bessmertin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jokinen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bessmertin lands a nice looking body kick.
Bessmertin tries to clinch but Jokinen moves out of range.
Jokinen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin tries to clinch up but Jokinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Bessmertin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jokinen has time to react.
Bessmertin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jokinen moves away.
Jokinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jokinen misses with a hook.
Bessmertin misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Jokinen counters with a single leg into guard. Bessmertin didn't expect that.
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 control the position from guard on top but Bessmertin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin wants to sweep here but Jokinen controlling him for the moment.
Bessmertin pulls Jokinen in close to prevent any damage.
Jokinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bessmertin is keeping the position for now.
Bessmertin controlling Jokinen's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bessmertin misses with a double jab

and Jokinen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bessmertin's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bessmertin holds on and takes a little breather.
Jokinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jokinen is fighting to break Bessmertin's control of his arms but Bessmertin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bessmertin is trying to keep Jokinen in close.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Artem Bessmertin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jokinen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin stuns Jokinen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A leg kick checked by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Artem Bessmertin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Bessmertin moves into the clinch successfully.
Bessmertin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bessmertin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jokinen taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Bessmertin scores with a nice short uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jokinen is trying to stall.
Bessmertin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jokinen backwards.
The referee calls for Jokinen to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Orpo Jokinen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bessmertin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jokinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bessmertin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jokinen. Bessmertin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bessmertin blocks a low kick nicely.
Jokinen dives in for a single leg takedown but Bessmertin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bessmertin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bessmertin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice left hand lands by Bessmertin.
Jokinen lands a right hand.
Jokinen fails to pull guard.
Jokinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin misses with the head strike.
Bessmertin lands a shot to the body.
Jokinen tries a body shot but Bessmertin blocks it.
Come on Jokinen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bessmertin is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bessmertin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Jokinen tries to throw a body punch but Bessmertin avoids it by throwing Jokinen back against the cage.
Bessmertin misses with the head strike.
Jokinen cracks Bessmertin with a nice body shot.
Bessmertin misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Bessmertin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jokinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Jokinen - that landed with a thud.
Jokinen lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Jokinen.
Jokinen tries a body shot but Bessmertin blocks it.
Jokinen trying to stall but Bessmertin improves his position.
Jokinen blocking some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bessmertin misses with a body punch.
Bessmertin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bessmertin tries to work over Jokinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bessmertin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Jokinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jokinen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bessmertins head.
Jokinen tries to pull guard but Bessmertin holds him up against the cage and eventually Jokinen drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Orpo Jokinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bessmertin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Jokinen is trying to pull guard but Bessmertin has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin tries to throw a body punch but Jokinen avoids it by throwing Bessmertin back against the cage.
Artem Bessmertin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bessmertin lands with a left to the head.
Bessmertin struggles to land a body shot inside as Jokinen controls his hands.
Bessmertin misses with some punches.
Jokinen tries to throw a body punch but Bessmertin avoids it by throwing Jokinen back against the cage.
Jokinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jokinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jokinen tries a body shot but Bessmertin blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Jokinen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bessmertin has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Bessmertin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bessmertin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jokinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bessmertin stalling the fight.
Bessmertin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jokinen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jokinen.
The referee calls for Jokinen to work.
Bessmertin misses with a punch on the inside.
Jokinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Bessmertin controls his hands.
Bessmertin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Bessmertin stops a takedown attempt from Jokinen.
Bessmertin swings wildly with an uppercut but Jokinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bessmertin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bessmertin lands with a short shot to the head.
Jokinen tries to stall but Bessmertin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bessmertin stalling.
Jokinen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bessmertin backwards.
Bessmertin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jokinen backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bessmertin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artem Bessmertin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bessmertin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Bessmertin!
A very excited looking Artem Bessmertin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.