PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Morten Joikhaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morten Joikhaaja has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Joikhaaja
vs
Griffin

173 cm
22
185 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

169 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Morten Joikhaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Griffin!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Griffin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Joikhaaja tries to escape but Griffin is in control.
Joikhaaja gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin is trying to control the action in half guard but Joikhaaja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Griffin controlling the action here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Griffin working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Joikhaaja is trying to get back to full guard.
Joikhaaja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Griffin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joikhaaja tries to get to full guard but Griffin has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Joikhaaja manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Griffin manages to get himself to full guard.
Joikhaaja is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Joikhaaja trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Joikhaaja missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Griffin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joikhaaja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joikhaaja missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joikhaaja is looking to work some ground and pound but Griffin has wrist control.
Joikhaaja looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Griffin looking for a sweep. Not yet Griffin, not yet.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Griffin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joikhaaja is one step ahead there.
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!
Joikhaaja keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Griffin's head.
Joikhaaja tries to free his leg and advance position but Griffin is retaining full guard.
Joikhaaja lands a couple of elbows.
Griffin is trying to keep Joikhaaja in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja wanted to stand there but Griffin had control of the position.
Griffin keeping moving, preventing Joikhaaja from controlling successfully.
Joikhaaja preventing the sweep.

Morten Joikhaaja has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Griffin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Joikhaaja misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joikhaaja connects with a solid leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Griffin.
Joikhaaja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griffin is fending him off so far but Joikhaaja persists. Nope, Griffin circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morten Joikhaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joikhaaja shoots in looking for a takedown but Griffin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Joikhaaja's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Joikhaaja fails with a takedown attempt.

Joikhaaja throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Griffin was covering up waiting for the punch and Joikhaaja finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Griffin wants to sweep but no luck.
Joikhaaja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Griffin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Griffin wants to improve his position but instead Joikhaaja has moved into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morten Joikhaaja dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joikhaaja has a takedown stuffed.
Joikhaaja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Griffin is fending him off so far but Joikhaaja persists. Nope, Griffin circles away and we're back to standing.
Griffin throws a hook but Joikhaaja blocks it.

Joikhaaja darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Griffin trying to control here.
Griffin tries to roll over but Joikhaaja keeps him under control.
Joikhaaja looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Griffin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Joikhaaja is looking to take a break and control but Griffin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Griffin is looking to improve his position.
Griffin is still trying to improve position.
Griffin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joikhaaja.
Griffin is looking to control Joikhaaja's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Griffin avoid being mounted?
Joikhaaja is trying to control the action in half guard but Griffin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joikhaaja moves nicely into side control.

Joikhaaja tries for a kimura but Griffin is defending well.
Joikhaaja throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja working the head and body with strikes.
Joikhaaja in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Joikhaaja scores with punches from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Griffin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Joikhaaja's best efforts.
Joikhaaja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Griffin is doing well to control the position and prevent Joikhaaja from advancing to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Griffin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Griffin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Joikhaaja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Joikhaaja's back!
Morten Joikhaaja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Griffin has the hooks in. Joikhaaja is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Joikhaaja is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Joikhaaja has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Griffin is hanging on to Joikhaaja's back as he tries to escape.
Joikhaaja trying to control the position but Griffin manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Joikhaaja taking some punishment here, with Griffin in his half guard.
Griffin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Joikhaaja's head.
Joikhaaja wants to improve his position but Griffin is controlling well.
Griffin prevents Joikhaaja from standing back up.
Joikhaaja moves into full guard.
Griffin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Joikhaaja looking to control but Griffin passes into half guard.
Joikhaaja wants to improve his position but Griffin is controlling well.
Joikhaaja controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin is trying to control the action in half guard but Joikhaaja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Joikhaaja moves into full guard.
Griffin postures up in Joikhaaja's guard and throws a big left but Joikhaaja blocks it.
Griffin postures up.
Joikhaaja looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffin is one step ahead there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Joikhaaja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Griffin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morten Joikhaaja dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Griffin throws a low kick but Joikhaaja moves out of range easily.
Joikhaaja shoots in for a takedown but Griffin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice shot by Griffin.
Joikhaaja dives in for a single leg takedown but Griffin sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Joikhaaja jumps guard.
Joikhaaja wants to stand and escape but Griffin is having none of it.
Joikhaaja being controlled here, momentarily.
Joikhaaja is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Joikhaaja working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Griffin.
Joikhaaja looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Griffin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Griffin working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja tries to kick Griffin off but Griffin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nice strikes from Griffin there.
Joikhaaja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Joikhaaja moves into full guard.
Griffin landing with the ground and pound.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Joikhaaja keeps moving.
Joikhaaja 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.
Joikhaaja trying to control the position.
Joikhaaja 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.
Chris Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Griffin wants to control from the top but Joikhaaja keeps moving.
Joikhaaja looking to hit a scissor sweep but Griffin is one step ahead there.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Griffin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jab, jab by Griffin - just one landing.
Nice uppercut lands for Griffin. That snapped Joikhaaja's head back.
Joikhaaja seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Joikhaaja tries for a takedown but Griffin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morten Joikhaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Joikhaaja is defended easily by Griffin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Joikhaaja momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja tries to score a power double leg takedown but Griffin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Joikhaaja somewhat.
Griffin bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Joikhaaja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Griffin avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Griffin tries for a takedown but Joikhaaja sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Griffin misses with a straight left.
Horrible takedown by Joikhaaja or perhaps it was just good defense by Griffin which made him look bad.
Griffin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Joikhaaja shoots for a double leg takedown but Griffin sprawls well. He's pushed Joikhaaja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Griffin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Griffin throws the kick towards the body but Joikhaaja avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Griffin throws a hook to the side of Joikhaaja's head but Joikhaaja sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Joikhaaja attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Joikhaaja looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Griffin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Joikhaaja won't allow Griffin to sweep him here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Griffin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joikhaaja controls the pace.
Joikhaaja throws a big right hand that misses.
Joikhaaja is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joikhaaja throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Griffin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Joikhaaja landing some decent shots from guard.
Morten Joikhaaja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joikhaaja throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Griffin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Griffin.
I think Joikhaaja has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morten Joikhaaja!