PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Morten Joikhaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kari Keskisarja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Joikhaaja
vs
Keskisarja

173 cm
25
185 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

187 cm
27
201 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Morten Joikhaaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Keskisarja!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keskisarja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown attempt by Joikhaaja or perhaps it was just good defense by Keskisarja, which made it look bad.

Joikhaaja changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Keskisarja looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Joikhaaja creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Keskisarja sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The strikes coming from Joikhaaja are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Keskisarja avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Joikhaaja.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keskisarja is looking to regain half guard here but Joikhaaja keeps moving and retains side control.
Joikhaaja throws an elbow but Keskisarja slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ground and pound from Joikhaaja seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Joikhaaja with the ground and pound but Keskisarja regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Keskisarja blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja thows a huge punch but Keskisarja dodges it nicely.
Joikhaaja working the head and body with strikes.
Keskisarja really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joikhaaja. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Keskisarja blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joikhaaja.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joikhaaja winds up and cracks Keskisarja with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Joikhaaja throwing shots but Keskisarja is blocking nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Keskisarja can do anything to dispel that myth.
Joikhaaja looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Keskisarja with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Joikhaaja lands a nice short elbow.
Keskisarja avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keskisarja blocking the ground and pound attempt from Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Keskisarja defending well though.
Joikhaaja sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Keskisarja defending well though.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joikhaaja throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Joikhaaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Keskisarja avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joikhaaja.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja throwing shots but Keskisarja is blocking nicely.
Joikhaaja lands with a punch from half guard.
Joikhaaja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Joikhaaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Keskisarja is trying to maintain the position but Joikhaaja is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joikhaaja tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Keskisarja swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morten Joikhaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keskisarja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Joikhaaja drives through and clinches with Keskisarja against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morten Joikhaaja dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Joikhaaja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Joikhaaja goes for a double leg but Keskisarja avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Keskisarja continues to drive forward.
Keskisarja only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Keskisarja is looking to score with low kicks.
Horrible takedown attempt by Joikhaaja or perhaps it was just good defense by Keskisarja, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morten Joikhaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Joikhaaja throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Keskisarja was covering up waiting for the punch and Joikhaaja finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Joikhaaja loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keskisarja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joikhaaja scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joikhaaja throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joikhaaja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joikhaaja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Joikhaaja postures up in Keskisarja's guard and throws a big left but Keskisarja blocks it.
Joikhaaja is looking to work some ground and pound but Keskisarja has wrist control.
Keskisarja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joikhaaja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joikhaaja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joikhaaja throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Keskisarja works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Morten Joikhaaja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joikhaaja throws a big right hand that misses.
Keskisarja working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joikhaaja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joikhaaja with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Joikhaaja drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Joikhaaja creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Keskisarja sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Joikhaaja tries to score with some ground and pound. Keskisarja controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Joikhaaja creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Joikhaaja throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Keskisarja avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Keskisarja is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keskisarja managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Joikhaaja with the ground and pound but Keskisarja regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Joikhaaja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Joikhaaja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Joikhaaja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Joikhaaja lands with a punch from half guard.
Joikhaaja throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Keskisarja to regain full guard.
Joikhaaja postures up in Keskisarja's guard and throws a big left but Keskisarja blocks it.
Joikhaaja stopping the sweep attempt from Keskisarja.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja throws a big elbow that misses.
Keskisarja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joikhaaja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Joikhaaja working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja distracts Keskisarja with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Joikhaaja is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Joikhaaja chips away with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joikhaaja throws a big right hand that misses.
Joikhaaja lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Keskisarja utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morten Joikhaaja dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Joikhaaja has a takedown stuffed.
Joikhaaja looks for a takedown but Keskisarja sprawls well.

Joikhaaja closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Keskisarja's guard.
Joikhaaja throws a big elbow that misses.
Joikhaaja throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keskisarja is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Joikhaaja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Keskisarja can do to turn this around?
Joikhaaja trying to control but Keskisarja postures up.
Joikhaaja tries to get to full guard but Keskisarja has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keskisarja controlling the pace.
Joikhaaja is refusing to be controlled, as Keskisarja sits in half guard.
Joikhaaja is doing well to control the position and prevent Keskisarja from advancing to side control.
Joikhaaja is looking to control Keskisarja's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Joikhaaja avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Keskisarja looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Joikhaaja tries to roll over but Keskisarja keeps him under control.
Kari Keskisarja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joikhaaja tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Joikhaaja is looking for a sweep. Keskisarja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Keskisarja waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Joikhaaja.
Joikhaaja misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Morten Joikhaaja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja misses with a takedown
letting Keskisarja counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Keskisarja.
Kari Keskisarja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Joikhaaja doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Keskisarja makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Joikhaaja shoots and misses
and Keskisarja counters with a left to the body.

Joikhaaja shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Keskisarja's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joikhaaja cracks Keskisarja with a solid left hand.
Joikhaaja throws an elbow that misses. Keskisarja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joikhaaja's guard. Nice move by Keskisarja!

Joikhaaja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joikhaaja is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Joikhaaja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
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 thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Keskisarja's head.
Joikhaaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joikhaaja throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Keskisarja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joikhaaja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Joikhaaja is nestled in close to Keskisarja, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Morten Joikhaaja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Joikhaaja lands a nice short elbow.

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 Morten Joikhaaja.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Joikhaaja, 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28

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