PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dante Ascanio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niila Joikhaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ascanio's entrance music is Otis Taylor / Ten Million Slaves. A fine choice. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Ascanio
vs
Joikhaaja

185 cm
20
181 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

178 cm
20
183 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Perkele!

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Ascanio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niila Joikhaaja!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joikhaaja shoots in and drives through. Ascanio sprawls well.
Ascanio scores with a punch to the head.
Joikhaaja dives in and grabs Ascanio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ascanio pushes down on Joikhaaja's head and hops out.
Joikhaaja shoots for a takedown but Ascanio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dante Ascanio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niila Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja fails with the takedown
and Ascanio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Niila Joikhaaja has been cut.
Joikhaaja has his takedown stuffed
and Ascanio counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joikhaaja shoots and misses
and Ascanio counters with a right hand to the body.
Ascanio ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Joikhaaja shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ascanio as he jumps to the side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Joikhaaja is defended easily by Ascanio.
Joikhaaja tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ascanio defends well and Joikhaaja ends up having to push Ascanio into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Joikhaaja is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ascanio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja fails to pull guard.
Joikhaaja jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ascanio walks away with a smile on his face. Joikhaaja gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Joikhaaja takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Niila Joikhaaja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joikhaaja looks for a takedown but Ascanio sprawls well.
Ascanio scores with a crisp jab that stopped Joikhaaja in his tracks.
Joikhaaja shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ascanio pinned against the cage. Ascanio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joikhaaja doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Joikhaaja looks winded!
Ascanio punishes Joikhaaja's body with a nice straight punch.

Ascanio moves into range and clinches up with Joikhaaja.
Ascanio scores with a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Joikhaaja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ascanio just stands there and leans against the cage.
Joikhaaja tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ascanio works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja jumps guard but Ascanio stands there with Joikhaaja around his waist. Joikhaaja gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ascanio lands a shot to the body.
Joikhaaja tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ascanio just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ascanio lands an uppercut.
Joikhaaja has Ascanio pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ascanio manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Joikhaaja is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ascanio is defending well.
Joikhaaja's coach down at IMMA Gym of ASS was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Joikhaaja's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ascanio scores with a shoulder strike.

Joikhaaja is rocked!
Ascanio is leaning against Joikhaaja and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ascanio lands with a right to the head.
Joikhaaja is still on wobbly legs! Can Ascanio finish him?
Ascanio effectively controlling the action here.
Joikhaaja is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ascanio to keep the fight standing.
Joikhaaja is trying to pull guard but Ascanio turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Joikhaaja seems to have recovered his senses.
Ascanio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ascanio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Joikhaaja tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ascanio smiles and moves away.
Ascanio lands a nice hook to Joikhaaja's body. Joikhaaja takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ascanio connects with a looping right hand.
Ascanio throws a shot to the body.
Ascanio ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ascanio is throwing a storm of strikes! Right hook, left hook and follows it up with a spinning back fist! Joikhaaja hits the canvas like a rag doll! And just like that, this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Dante Ascanio!
A relieved looking Dante Ascanio thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.